Which of the following is not a labeling requirement of specimens for crossmatching?

• A. Ordering physician
• B. Patient name
• C. Collection date
• D. Specimen ID

Answer: (D)

In crossmatching, the label on the specimen must clearly identify the patient and the collection event so the right specimen can be linked to the right patient and test order. The information that is essential on the label includes the patient’s identity and the collection date/time. The name of the ordering physician lives on the requisition and is not a required item on the specimen label. A separate specimen ID is not required on the label because the critical linkage for crossmatching relies on the patient identifier and the collection date rather than a distinct specimen-specific code. Therefore, a separate labeling item called “specimen ID” isn’t a labeling requirement for crossmatching.