What is a critical step following the collection of a blood specimen?

The essential aspect of handling a blood specimen post-collection involves multiple critical steps to ensure the integrity of the sample and the safety of the patient. First, immediately delivering the specimen to the lab is vital to minimize any biochemical changes that might occur in the sample over time. The sooner a specimen is processed, the more reliable the results will be.

Applying pressure to the site is also important to prevent excessive bleeding and to help the puncture site to heal properly. This step is crucial for patient safety and comfort.

Labeling the specimen accurately is necessary for proper identification and tracking throughout the testing and reporting process. Mislabeling can lead to serious clinical errors, including misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment.

Thus, each of these steps—delivery, pressure application, and labeling—are critical components of blood specimen handling. Their collective importance justifies that the correct response encompasses all of them, highlighting that each task plays an integral role in ensuring proper specimen processing and patient care.