When delivering blood samples to a laboratory, how should they be transported?

When delivering blood samples to a laboratory, it is essential to transport them inside sealed plastic bags. This method serves multiple purposes: it protects the samples from contamination, prevents leakage, and helps maintain specimen integrity during transport. The sealed bags also provide a barrier that safeguards the samples from environmental factors that could affect their quality, such as temperature fluctuations and exposure to light.

Transporting blood samples in open containers or loose in a cooler would leave them exposed to contamination and increase the risk of spillage or breakage. Similarly, using basic cardboard boxes without proper sealing does not ensure the same level of protection and can lead to compromised sample quality. Thus, sealed plastic bags represent the best practice for safely delivering blood samples to the laboratory.