Anesthesia Technologist Practice Exam

When sending an arterial blood gas sample to a lab located on a different floor, what is essential for the anesthesia technician to do?

1. Ensure the temperature is room temperature

2. Label the syringe with the correct patient identification

3. Place the syringe in a standard envelope

4. Use a sterile technique for sealing

The correct answer is: Label the syringe with the correct patient identification

Labeling the syringe with the correct patient identification is crucial because accurate patient information ensures that the blood gas results can be correctly matched to the individual being tested. This step minimizes the risk of misidentification, which could lead to serious diagnostic and treatment errors. Proper labeling is a fundamental practice in the medical field, particularly in instances where samples are transported, as it ensures that the laboratory staff can verify the identity of the patient and the context of the sample being analyzed. While other aspects of sample handling, such as maintaining proper temperature or using sterile techniques, are important for sample integrity, they do not address the immediate concern of patient identification, which is the first line of safeguarding against errors in reporting and treatment decisions.