10 Essential Laboratory Labels
More than 7 billion — that's how many lab tests are performed on average in the U.S. each year. From a common blood count test to evaluate a patient's overall health and detect a wide range of disorders, to the rare screening for the type of bacteria that causes anthrax, laboratory tests have an immeasurable impact on diagnostic and treatment decisions. In fact, 70% of today's medical decisions depend on laboratory test results. But when a step in the testing process gets disrupted, it can cause problems that range from a delayed diagnosis and a need to redraw a specimen, to the serious consequences of patient misidentification. Labeling specimens properly can prevent disruptions in the workflow. Use these 10 essential lab labels to help ensure proper specimen collection, transport and processing, meet Joint Commission labeling requirements and protect patients and staff.
Key Takeaways
- Accurate specimen labeling is essential for patient safety, helping ensure test results are linked to the correct patient throughout collection, transport, and processing.
- Improperly labeled specimens may be rejected, leading to delayed diagnoses, repeat collections, increased workload, and patient dissatisfaction.
- Laboratory labels should contain all required patient and specimen information, including patient identifiers, collection date and time, specimen source, and test information.
- Barcode-enabled labeling systems can improve traceability, reduce manual entry errors, and support more efficient laboratory workflows.
- Durable labels that withstand refrigeration, freezing, moisture, and handling help preserve specimen integrity throughout the testing lifecycle.
- Safety labels such as Biohazard, OSHA, and GHS labels communicate important hazards and help protect laboratory personnel from potential exposure risks.
- Standardized labeling practices support compliance with internal protocols and accreditation requirements while reducing preventable errors.
The Importance Of Labeling In The Laboratory
Laboratories perform tests that guide patient care and allow healthcare providers to confirm a diagnosis, build a treatment plan and manage and monitor a patient's condition. A laboratory label provides positive patient identification and other essential details that make it all possible. What happens without a lab label? Specimens get rejected and patient safety is compromised all while increasing the workload of the care team.
Most healthcare organizations require a label on the specimen container. Without one, the specimen gets rejected.
How Labeling Helps You Maintain Compliance
Accurate specimen labeling also plays an important role in regulatory compliance.
Organizations including the Joint Commission, the College of American Pathologists, and the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments establish requirements and best practices designed to ensure specimen integrity and patient safety.
Consistent labeling procedures help healthcare organizations demonstrate compliance, support survey readiness, and reduce the risk of errors that can lead to citations or corrective actions.
What Should Lab Labels Include?
To protect patients from adverse errors made due to improperly labeled specimens, a lab label must contain the following legible information:
- Patient name
- Patient medical record number, with check digit
- Patient location
- Collection date and time
- Specimen type and/or source
- Test required (note any special handling required)
- Ordering physician
A specimen is incompletely labeled if any of the required information is missing.
In addition, although specimen containers are typically sent in a transport bag, the actual specimen must be labeled. It is not acceptable to label only the bag or other containers used to transport the specimen.
How Barcode Labels Improve Patient Safety
Barcoding has proven to reduce patient specimen and laboratory testing identification errors.
Using barcode labels to scan patient data directly from electronic health records and wristbands, helps to maintain a secure chain of custody from the patient to the specimen.
Barcode labeling also provides benefits during:
- Bedside specimen collection
- Specimen transport
- Laboratory accessioning
- Test processing
- Result reporting
When combined with positive patient identification procedures, barcode labels provide an additional layer of protection against specimen identification errors.
What If Specimens Are Mislabeled Or Improperly Labeled?
Typically, specimens that are received unlabeled, double-labeled, or contain a requisition with a name and/or medical record number different from what is affixed to the specimen, will not be tested.
Further, when improper labeling causes the specimen to be rejected, it may require redrawing the specimen.
Common Reasons Specimens Are Rejected
When a specimen is rejected, it's not always caused by a testing issue. In many cases, the problem begins before the specimen ever reaches the laboratory. Missing patient information, mismatched identifiers, illegible handwriting, and labels that detach during transport can all result in a rejected sample.
If it's not possible to confidently link the specimen to the correct patient, laboratory staff must follow established protocols to protect patient safety. This may require recollection of the specimen which delays test results, subjects patients to another collection procedure and creates additional work for the clinical staff.
These are common labeling-related issues that lead to specimen rejection:
- Missing patient identifiers
- Incorrect or incomplete patient information
- Mismatched information between the specimen and requisition
- Labels applied to the wrong specimen container
- Labels that become damaged, smudged, or detached during transport
By using labels designed for the laboratory conditions and following standardized collection procedures, healthcare organizations can reduce preventable specimen rejections and improve laboratory efficiency.
Laboratory Safety Precautions
Labels are important for specimen collection, transport, and processing while ensuring patient safety. Additionally, they communicate precautions to laboratory staff to warn against the potential safety challenges of certain chemicals.
Chemical management is a critical component of maintaining a safe laboratory environment. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires labeling of containers of chemicals in the lab, as well as containers of chemicals being shipped to other workplaces.
Why Label Durability Matters
A specimen label must remain legible and securely attached throughout every stage of the testing process. Depending on the type of test, specimens may be exposed to moisture, refrigeration, freezing temperatures, centrifugation, repeated handling, and transportation between departments or facilities.
If a label smears, peels, fades, or detaches, laboratory personnel may lose access to critical patient information needed to process the specimen safely.
When selecting laboratory labels, healthcare organizations should consider:
- Resistance to moisture and condensation
- Adhesion to glass and plastic containers
- Compatibility with refrigeration and freezing
- Resistance to chemicals and laboratory handling
Durable labels help preserve specimen identity from collection through final analysis, reducing the risk of delays and specimen rejection.
10 Essential Laboratory Labels
These 10 laboratory labels help to facilitate laboratory workflows and are essential for both labeling specimens and communicating safety precautions to staff within the lab.
1) Biohazard Labels
Used in conjunction with OSHA exposure control program, Biohazard labels help to eliminate or minimize occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens by identifying equipment, containers, rooms, materials and more which potentially or actually contain hazardous elements.
2) Consecutive Number Labels
In addition to patient samples and specimens, consecutive number labels are used to track a wide range of laboratory assets. Plus, the numbering allows the specimen to be delivered to the clinical staff and patient while maintaining the patient's anonymity during the analysis process.
3) Cryogenic Laboratory Labels
Cryogenics is used in hospital laboratories to freeze biological samples such as stem cells, plasma, cells and strains. Cryogenic laboratory labels are engineered to withstand cryogenic refrigerators and liquid nitrogen over an extended period of time and remain intact during those extremely cold conditions.
4) Laboratory Colored Tape
Laboratory colored tape simplifies the color-coding of equipment, instruments, and charts. Plus, when specimens require special handling, using colored tape on lab benches improves workflow by denoting new, in process and complete.
5) Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) Labels
LIS labels simplify the process of differentiating a lab's samples, reagents, or plates. LIS labels with a unique barcode are the most effective way to track and keep those items separate.
6) Laboratory Specimen Labels
Laboratory specimens go through three distinct steps including collection, transportation and processing. Specimen labels ensure positive patient identification through each step.
7) Microscope Slide Labels
Microscope slide labels are used on all types of microscope slides including glass, fiberglass and plastic, including both wet- and dry-mounted slides. They are typically labeled on the frosted end and include the accession number, slide designation and patient name.
8) OSHA and GHS Safety Labels
OSHA and GHS labels communicate chemical hazards, providing an instant reminder to employees in the lab of the chemical hazards they may face. In addition, they simplify the labeling of secondary containers with information required by OSHA.
9) Quality Control Labels
Quality control labels help to track and manage those items effectively, in addition to testing and specimen analysis, laboratories also manage reagents, instruments and more.
10) Warning Storage Labels
Warning storage labels mark receptacles that contain common reagents and hazardous materials. They help guard against accidents and illnesses by communicating essential safety information.
The Hidden Cost of Labeling Errors
When a specimen must be recollected because of a labeling issue, the impact extends beyond the laboratory. A single labeling error can result in:
- Delayed diagnosis and treatment
- Additional specimen collection procedures
- Increased workload for nursing and laboratory staff
- Longer patient wait times
- Higher operational costs
- Reduced patient satisfaction
United Ad Label
For over 60 years, United Ad Label has produced stock and custom lab labels that improve the specimen workflow and patient and staff safety. Our catalog contains hundreds of products used throughout the hospital laboratory workflow that are in stock and available for immediate shipment. Plus, when your needs call for a custom laboratory label, our online custom label designer app allows you to easily design, price, proof and order a product that meets your specific needs.
Contact UsFrequently Asked Questions
What information is required on a laboratory specimen label?
Requirements vary by organization, but laboratory specimen labels typically include the patient's name, medical record number, collection date and time, specimen source, ordering provider, and test information. Healthcare organizations should follow their internal policies and applicable regulatory requirements.
Why are improperly labeled specimens rejected?
Laboratories rely on accurate patient identification to ensure test results are matched to the correct patient. If required information is missing, incorrect, illegible, or inconsistent, the specimen may be rejected to prevent patient safety risks and diagnostic errors.
What causes a laboratory label to fail?
Laboratory labels fail because of the rigor of the specimen testing process. A typical sample may be exposed to cold or freezing temperatures, moisture, chemicals, centrifugation, and repeated handling during the testing process. An improperly spec'd label may fail under these conditions. Labels designed for laboratory use remain legible and securely attached.
Which laboratory labels are most important for patient safety?
Specimen labels, LIS barcode labels, microscope slide labels, and Biohazard labels play particularly important roles in supporting patient identification, specimen traceability, and safe specimen handling throughout the laboratory workflow.