What should you do if the PHN on a requisition does not match the specimen for a CBCD test order?

When the Personal Health Number (PHN) on a requisition does not match the specimen for a Complete Blood Count with Differential (CBCD) test, canceling the test and requesting a recollection is the appropriate action. This discrepancy indicates a potential issue with patient identification, which is crucial for ensuring the accuracy of test results and patient safety.

Patient identification is paramount in laboratory medicine; mismatching PHNs could lead to serious errors in diagnosis and treatment. By canceling the test and prompting a recollection, you uphold the standard of care and adhere to proper protocols that mitigate the risk of incorrect results being reported based on misidentified specimens. Ensuring that the patient’s correct information is associated with their test specimens fosters confidence in the laboratory's processes and contributes to overall patient safety and treatment efficacy.

While it may seem easier to proceed with the test or ignore the discrepancy, doing so could result in significant consequences for patient care, as it undermines the integrity and reliability of laboratory results. Reporting the error to a supervisor might also be necessary in certain circumstances, but it does not directly address the immediate need to rectify the patient identifier issue through recollection. Hence, the best course of action is to cancel the test and ensure accurate patient identification before proceeding