4.1 Requisition Review & Professional Introduction

4.1 Requisition Review & Professional Introduction

Every blood collection starts with paperwork and people skills. AMCA PTC Tasks 3.01–3.02 expect you to verify that the requisition is complete and actionable, then present yourself professionally before you begin identification and collection. Errors at this stage produce wrong-patient draws, missed timed tests, and avoidable patient complaints.

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Required Requisition Elements

A laboratory requisition (paper or electronic order) authorizes collection and tells you what to collect. Before entering the patient space, confirm essential elements are present and legible:

Facilities differ on exact required fields, but the professional standard is the same: if critical identity or test information is missing, incomplete, or conflicting, do not collect—resolve the discrepancy with the ordering provider, nurse, or accessioning staff first.

Common Missing-Info Holds

Hold and clarify when you find:

• Name on requisition that does not match the wristband or stated identity
• Missing DOB/MRN when policy requires it
• Illegible handwriting or truncated electronic orders
• Tests ordered without required clinical conditions (e.g., missing fasting notation when the test requires fasting)
• Duplicate conflicting orders (different tubes/times) without clarification
• No ordering provider or callback path for critical results

Document the hold reason and who you notified. Collecting “to be helpful” with incomplete orders is a patient-safety failure.

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STAT, Timed, and Fasting Flags

Priority and preparation flags change your workflow before you introduce yourself.

STAT

STAT means immediate collection and rapid transport/processing per facility definition. Reprioritize your queue: complete or safely pause non-urgent work, gather correct tubes, and proceed without unnecessary delay. STAT does not authorize skipping identification or hand hygiene.

Timed

Timed tests (therapeutic drug levels, cortisol, GTT draws, peak/trough antibiotics) must be collected as close as possible to the ordered time. Review the schedule, note the exact target time, and communicate delays immediately. Collecting hours early/late can invalidate results and clinical decisions.

Fasting

Fasting orders typically require 8–12 hours without caloric intake (water often allowed—follow test-specific and facility rules). Before drawing:

• Ask when the patient last ate or drank anything other than water (and medications per policy).
• If the patient is not fasting as required, do not assume—notify the provider/nurse; many tests will be rescheduled rather than drawn nonfasting unless the order is changed.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                         FLAG → ACTION BEFORE DRAW                                 |
+----------------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| Flag                 | Technician Action                                          |
+----------------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| STAT                 | Prioritize; do not skip ID or safety steps                 |
+----------------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| Timed                | Verify target time; escalate if delayed                    |
+----------------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| Fasting              | Confirm last intake; hold if noncompliant unless ordered   |
+----------------------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| Missing ID elements  | Hold collection; correct requisition first                 |
+----------------------+------------------------------------------------------------+

Professional Introduction & Rapport

After requisition review, approach the patient with confidence and courtesy.

Introduce Yourself as a Phlebotomy Technician

Use a clear script adapted to your workplace, for example:

“Good morning, my name is Alex Rivera. I’m a phlebotomy technician with the laboratory. I’m here to collect your blood samples ordered by Dr. Patel.”

Key components:

1. Greeting appropriate to time of day and culture of the unit
2. Your name
3. Your role/title — “phlebotomy technician” (or facility-approved title)
4. Brief purpose — blood collection for ordered laboratory tests
5. Permission/cooperation cue — “Is now a good time?” / “I’ll explain each step as we go.”

Explaining your role briefly reduces fear (“Are you a student?”) and clarifies that you are authorized to perform the procedure. In teaching facilities, disclose student status per policy and obtain required consent/supervision.

Build Rapport Before Formal ID

Rapport is not small talk for its own sake—it lowers anxiety and improves stillness during the stick:

• Make eye contact; face the patient at a comfortable distance.
• Acknowledge fear: “A lot of people feel nervous; I’ll walk you through it.”
• Ask about preference for dominant/non-dominant arm only after ID and clinical site rules are clear.
• Keep explanations concrete and short; avoid joking about needles in a way that heightens fear.

Critical boundary: Rapport happens before or alongside settling the patient, but positive identification with two identifiers still must occur before any puncture. Friendliness never substitutes for ID. Likewise, do not begin assembling needles at the bedside before ID confirmation in a way that pressures a misidentified patient.

Privacy and Professionalism

• Speak in a volume that protects PHI in shared bays.
• Knock and request permission before entering inpatient rooms.
• Address adults formally unless invited to use a first name.
• For pediatric patients, greet the child and caregiver; explain in age-appropriate language while still verifying ID against the caregiver and wristband per policy.

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Workflow Integration

Ideal sequence for Tasks 3.01–3.02:

1. Review requisition for completeness and flags.
2. Gather appropriate supplies based on tests.
3. Approach, introduce self and role, explain purpose.
4. Build brief rapport / assess anxiety and cooperation.
5. Proceed to formal patient identification (next procedural steps).

Technicians who rush past introduction appear untrustworthy; technicians who chat without checking the requisition create clerical disasters. Balance both—accuracy first, courtesy always.