Summary: This page describes the process of receiving, storing and collecting patient specimens for lab testing.
Who’s it for: All staff
All specimens are a potential infection risk. If you are involved in handling patient samples at Penrose Health, you are responsible for complying with the standards described throughout this page. You need to be aware of your personal responsibilities in preventing spread of infection, and continually assess if you meet the required standards.
As a key rule, make sure that you wash your hands before and after handling all patient samples (see Hand hygienefor more information)
Receiving patient samples
Reception
- When a patient brings their sample to reception, ensure that it is in the correct container, and the container is properly secured and labelled.
- Ask the patient to put the container into a clearly labelled collection box (this can be found at reception). If using a reusable plastic collection box, make sure to clean it daily.
- In EMIS, find the patient who has produced the sample (it may be someone else dropping it off, so be clear) and add comment in consultation notes of sample type and who dropped it off.
- Check for contamination on the outside of the container. If there is contamination, wipe immediately using a paper towel, then clean and disinfect with an appropriate wipe.
- Put any larger samples (e.g., 24-hour urine collections) in clear plastic sacks and tie securely. Attach the TQuest form to the outside of the bag (try to avoid using pins or staples to attach the form). If the form gets contaminated, request another.
- Store the sample in the specimen fridge within one hour, for urine, faeces, sputum or aspirate, or four hours for vaginal swabs
Do NOT mix blood samples with any other type of sample
See the full process for receiving and processing patient samples at reception on our Samples page.
HCA, Nurse or Nursing Associate
- Wearing appropriate Personal protective equipment (PPE), re-check that the sample has been correctly labelled and sealed
If you notice that a sample container is leaking, dispose of the sample in an orange clinical waste bag and request a new sample from the patient. If not possible, wear appropriate Personal protective equipment (PPE) to transfer the sample to a new container.
- Seal the sample in the designated processing bag for collection. If a sample is suspected or known to be infectious, use a collection bag labelled with ‘biohazard’
Sample collection
Specimens should NOT be sent to any laboratory through the general post system
Find sample collection times for each surgery on our Samples page
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Timeframes for laboratory examination of sample types
Biological/clinical waste collection
- Biological/clinical waste should be put in a secure container and placed in the correct clinical waste bag, which can be selected using our Waste management page
- If the outside of a waste bag gets contaminated, put it in another secure waste bag
- Dispose of any sharps and biological/clinical waste which may pierce hazard bags (e.g., glass) in a sharps bin (see Safe use and disposal of sharps for more information)
If you have any questions or concerns with any of these infection control policies, please let your Line Manager know or tell us here