Which of the following should be collected first for tests including CBC, chemistry panel, lead, and a toxicology screen via capillary puncture?

Choice A Reason:
Using only one patient identifier is not sufficient to ensure patient safety and accuracy in healthcare settings. It increases the risk of misidentification, which can lead to serious medical errors. Therefore, one identifier is not the standard practice for patient verification before a blood draw.

Choice B Reason:
While two identifiers are commonly used in many healthcare settings as a minimum requirement, they may not always provide enough differentiation, especially in larger facilities where patient names may be similar. Two identifiers are often the minimum standard, but they are not the most comprehensive approach.

Choice C Reason:
Three unique patient identifiers provide a more robust method for verifying a patient's identity, significantly reducing the likelihood of errors. According to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), three identifiers are recommended to ensure the correct patient is being collected. This may include the patient's full name, date of birth, and medical record number or another unique identifier.

Choice D Reason:
While using four unique identifiers could further reduce the risk of patient misidentification, it is not typically required as the standard minimum. Three identifiers are generally considered adequate for most healthcare settings to ensure patient safety and proper identification.

Choice A reason:
Mechanical safety is a critical aspect of laboratory inspections, especially when focusing on equipment maintenance logs. These logs are essential for ensuring that all mechanical equipment is functioning correctly and safely. Regular maintenance and inspection can prevent mechanical failures that could lead to workplace accidents or compromise the integrity of experiments.

Choice B reason:
Chemical safety is undoubtedly important in a laboratory setting; however, it is not the primary focus when the inspection is centered on equipment maintenance logs. Chemical safety would involve the proper storage, handling, and disposal of chemicals, which is a separate concern from the mechanical functioning of equipment.

Choice C reason:
Radiation safety is another vital area in laboratories that work with radioactive materials. However, the maintenance logs for equipment would not typically be the main focus of radiation safety inspections. Instead, radiation safety inspections would concentrate on ensuring proper shielding, monitoring, and training are in place.

Choice D reason:
Electrical safety is also essential, but similar to chemical and radiation safety, it is not the primary focus when inspecting equipment maintenance logs. Electrical safety would involve checking for proper wiring, grounding, and protection against electrical hazards.