What should be done if a blood sample arrives at the lab hemolyzed?

When a blood sample arrives at the lab hemolyzed, the appropriate action is to report and discard it. Hemolysis occurs when red blood cells break down, which can release intracellular contents, leading to inaccurate lab results. If a sample is hemolyzed, it may skew the readings for various tests, such as potassium levels, which could appear falsely elevated due to the release of potassium from lysed cells.

Therefore, reporting the hemolyzed sample ensures that laboratory personnel are aware of the issue, allowing them to avoid misinterpretation of test results. Discarding the sample is vital to ensure that only quality specimens are used for testing, which is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment decisions.

While it might be tempting to run the test if no other sample is available, this could compromise patient care by providing unreliable results. Thus, it is essential to prioritize the integrity of the lab results over the urgency of testing.