What essential information must be included on patient blood sample labels for compatibility testing?

For compatibility testing in blood banking, the inclusion of a unique patient medical number on blood sample labels is crucial. This number serves as a vital identifier, ensuring that the blood sample can be accurately matched to the correct patient’s medical records and blood type. It helps prevent errors in blood transfusion, which could lead to potentially life-threatening complications if mismatched blood is administered.

Unique patient identifiers enhance the traceability and accountability of blood samples throughout the transfusion process. By having this specific information, healthcare providers can accurately track the lineage of blood products and link them back to the patient, ensuring that the right products are given to the right individuals.

While a biohazard sticker is important for indicating potential infectious material, a patient's room number aids in locating the patient within a facility, and phlebotomist initials contribute to tracking the individual who collected the sample, these pieces of information do not uniquely identify the patient in the same critical manner that a unique patient medical number does. This focus on secure and accurate identification is fundamental to maintaining patient safety in blood transfusions.