If contamination is suspected during a blood draw, what action should the phlebotomist take?

When contamination is suspected during a blood draw, the phlebotomist should discard the specimen and redraw it. This action is crucial because any contamination can compromise the integrity of the sample, potentially leading to inaccurate test results. Accurate blood testing is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment, so ensuring that the specimen is uncontaminated is a top priority.

If a phlebotomist were to complete the draw despite contamination, it could result in misleading data that may affect patient care. Storing a contaminated specimen for further testing is also not appropriate, as the contamination would interfere with the analyses. Informing the patient without taking corrective action does not address the issue and could lead to significant consequences for their health. Therefore, discarding the specimen and repeating the draw ensures that the sample is suitable for testing, thereby upholding the quality and reliability of the laboratory results.