1 Patient Identification and Order Verification

Why identification matters

Accurate identification connects the right patient with the right test and specimen. A mix-up can lead to incorrect results or care, so follow facility policy and the testing laboratory’s requirements at every collection.

Identify the patient

Confirm identity

Introduce yourself and explain that you are confirming identity before collection. Ask the patient to state at least two Approved identifiers, then compare them with the wristband and the test request or electronic record. A full name and date of birth are examples; an assigned medical record number or another person-specific identifier may also be used if approved by policy. A room number or location is not an identifier.

For example, ask, “Please tell me your full name and date of birth.” Do not ask, “Are you Jordan Lee?” and accept a yes alone.

When the patient cannot state their identity

Use the facility’s approved alternative process, such as checking the identification band and confirming identity with an authorized caregiver or staff member. Do not rely on convenience or assumption.

Verify the order and specimen

Before collection, confirm that the order belongs to the identified patient and specifies the intended test. Check the required specimen type and, when applicable, its source, collection timing, and any special preparation or handling instructions. Ensure the patient’s identifiers agree across the order, record, and collection materials.

Label each specimen with the required identifiers and other required collection details, such as date and time or source, according to policy. Complete Specimen labeling in the patient’s presence and at the point of collection. Do not pre-label blood tubes before seeing and identifying the patient, or leave an unlabeled specimen to be matched later.

Laboratories must have written procedures supporting Positive specimen identification and appropriate specimen labeling. Exact information and acceptance rules can vary by test and laboratory, and written procedures should maintain specimen identification through testing and reporting.

Respond to discrepancies

If identifiers conflict, the order is missing or unclear, or the specimen label does not match, stop before collecting or submitting the specimen. Do not guess, overwrite a label, or change the order to make the information agree.

Keep any already-collected specimen separate and follow facility policy for holding or rejecting it. Contact the ordering clinician and/or laboratory to resolve the issue, and document the issue and actions taken as required.

Use temporary identification

If a patient’s identity cannot yet be verified, use only the facility’s approved Temporary identification process. The process may assign a temporary name and unique number. Use those identifiers consistently on the order and specimen, and reconcile them to the patient’s confirmed identity as soon as possible. Never create an informal identifier or substitute another patient’s label.