(1051) Neonatal Heel Stick Clotted and Hemolyzed Specimens Process Improvement Project

Performing specimen collection on neonates is a common procedure done in NICU’s. Specimen results guide care of the neonate, having inaccurate or rejected specimens cause delays in care along with increased cost from repeat labs, staff time, pain and stress for the infant. Finding root causes for rejected specimens can improve efficiency, cost, pain and undue stress for infants. Due to limited research for best practice in preventing clotted and hemolyzed specimens for the neonatal population, NICUs are left to explore solutions for common problems shared across the country. The need for good quality research to decrease rejected lab specimens particularly for heelstick specimen collection is evident.