Specimens should be transported in an appropriate container.
Container |
Problem |
nonsterile container for bacterial culture |
contamination |
material sent for culture or flow cytometry without transport media or solution |
specimen may dry out |
transport media out of date |
specimen may deteriorate during transport |
syringe with attached needle |
potential for sharps injury; prohibited by OSHA |
frozen sample in glass tube |
potential for sharps injury |
transfer tubes sealed with parafilm |
potential for leakage |
tubes with "pop top" caps |
may open during air transport; prohibited by DOT |
tubes with separator gel (SST or PST) |
gel may interfere with some tests; serum or plasma should be spun and transferred to a plastic transport tube |
body fluid without anticoagulant |
specimen may clot |
leaking specimen |
contamination of specimen and biohazard risk |
Specialty: Clinical Laboratory
ICD-10: ,