A phlebotomist is in the process of completing documentation for a legal specimen she collected. Before a courier can pick up the specimen, the phlebotomist must leave to collect a STAT draw. When the phlebotomist returns, she discovers that the courier had come and taken the specimen to the reference laboratory. The results obtained could not be used in court. What should the phlebotomist have done? (Choose all that apply.)A) The phlebotomist should have asked another phlebotomist to collect the STAT draw.B) The phlebotomist should have placed the specimen in a locked box until she returned.C) The phlebotomist should have signed the chain-of-custody form over to another person.D) The phlebotomist should not have begun processing the specimen.

What will be an ideal response?

A, B, C
When processing legal specimens that are sent to a reference lab, the chain of custody must be clearly documented. The phlebotomist must stay in possession of the specimen until signed over to another person for processing or transporting.