I used to work in a 1200-bed hospital back then in Texas. Great hospital, with a few not so great staff mixed in. Here’s a little background for my story.
The hospital’s NICU unit had a pretty awesome crew. Believe it or not, we get along with most of them. Each time they put an IV line in one of their patients, they will go ahead and transfer some into microtainer tubes so we don’t have to traumatize those precious cuties. It’s. win-win for both the lab and the patients!
Enter a new nurse who looks like a fresh graduate. She had just collected a sample for us in a EDTA microtainer tube for a Hematocrit level. She promptly called the lab and told us that the sample is ready and we need to pick it up. I was the one who took the call. It was a busy day in the lab and all our phlebotomists were out on patient floors, so I just told her we will get to it as soon as we can.
Ten minutes later, the same nurse called. This time, sounding furious. “Why haven’t you guys picked up the sample?” she yelled. “Don’t you blame us if the sample is clotted?”
At that point I just froze and somewhat lost for words. “What do you mean?” I asked.
“You have to pick up the sample NOW or it will clot and you will end up rejecting the sample!” she said
“Ma’am, it will not be possible for the sample to clot in a purple microtainer tube if you have mixed the sample properly.” I said while trying to stay as professional as possible. She hang up.
I should have asked her if she thought those bright tube colors are just to make them look pretty. 😀
Submitted by:
Rodney Lopez
Laboratory Technician
Florida USA
