1. For Pre-Ops, when do you get that 2nd specimen?
We get the second specimen on the morning of surgery. They collect a pink top on every surgery case in the morning if we need it or not.
2. For Outpatients, when/ how do you obtain that 2nd specimen?
The second specimen is collected on the day they come in for transfusion. The outpatient cancer center collects it first thing when the patient comes in.
3. For Inpatients they want to transfuse, what is the protocol?
We call and request a second specimen if we need one. We first look for a CBC that was drawn at a separate time to save the patient from being stuck again.
4. Do you require it just be a different time of draw, or does it also have to be a different phlebotomist?
We require it to be drawn at a different time. We prefer a second phlebotomist, but do not require it.
Another thought - We are looking into getting a special sized pink top tube to send to the floor when we need a second specimen collected. We have recently noticed that the floors are drawing two specimens at once and labeling them with a different draw time. This was recently noticed in our LDR and ER locations. Nurses denied it, but we had people physically witness this.