What is the correct procedure to follow after taking blood from a patient?

After taking blood from a patient, the correct procedure includes disposing of materials appropriately. This step is crucial for maintaining safety and hygiene in the clinical environment. Proper disposal helps to prevent contamination and reduces the risk of needlestick injuries and exposure to potentially infectious substances. Compliance with infection control protocols, including the correct disposal of needles, blood collection tubes, and other biohazard materials, is a fundamental practice in phlebotomy.

The other options, while related to patient care and laboratory processes, do not directly address the immediate post-phlebotomy procedure. Taking the patient's vitals is more relevant in a clinical assessment context rather than a routine step after blood collection. Preparing slides for microscopy is specifically related to using blood samples for testing, which occurs later in the process. Contacting the physician for results usually comes after the lab analysis has been completed, not immediately following blood collection. Thus, proper disposal of materials is the essential action following the venipuncture procedure.