Common blood sample errors, such as mislabeling or patient misidentification, can contribute to diagnostic delays. This review highlights the importance of using open-ended questions to gather information from patients and suggests that specimens be labeled with the patient present to ensure accurate verification. A WebM&M commentary explored problems associated with mislabeled blood samples.

Specimen labeling errors can result in patient misidentification and harm. This position paper draws from international guidelines to advocate for standardizing the processes involved in phlebotomy to reduce the potential for both patient and sample labeling errors. The authors recommend strategies for improvement including barcoding, staff training, and monitoring of mistakes to inform process enhancements.

Communication, coordination, and cooperation are key elements to effective teamwork, especially during high-stakes situations. This simulator-based study observed trauma teams and found that proven techniques, such as closed-loop communication, occurred infrequently, even in teams that had previously completed teamwork training programs.

This study in Swedish primary care clinics revealed that recommended practices to prevent identification errors, such as using two different identification modalities, were not routinely used.

Laboratory technicians reported very low usage of incident reporting systems, primarily due to lack of time available to complete reports.

Most errors in laboratory medicine occur in the preanalytical phase, that is, before the sample reaches the laboratory. This survey found that phlebotomists frequently do not follow recommended procedures to minimize labeling and documentation errors.