2026-01-05 – Weekly Lab Technician News : Chain-of-custody under pressure

Last week, our community delved into a variety of discussions with a strong focus on training and procedural efficiencies. The conversation about rigorous chain-of-custody training sparked interest, highlighting the importance of maintaining sample integrity under pressure. Another key theme involved exploring pre-troponin markers for myocardial infarction, showcasing diverse experiences and knowledge. Members also shared insights into challenges like plate reader baseline drift and the effectiveness of troubleshooting trainings.


This Week’s Hot Topics

Rigorous chain-of-custody training recommendations
This thread is gaining traction as members exchange strategies for ensuring sample integrity, even during hectic lab schedules. It’s a must-read for anyone interested in compliance and efficiency.
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Pre-troponin MI markers you used
An insightful discussion where technicians share their experiences with different markers used before troponin became standard. This is a great resource for historical context and alternative approaches.
Read more here

Plate reader baseline drift after warm-up
If you’ve encountered erratic readings, this thread could offer some practical solutions and preventative measures.
Read more here

Which trainings actually improve troubleshooting
Members discuss the value of various training programs and which ones truly enhance problem-solving skills in the lab.
Read more here

How many samples for method comparison
This conversation tackles the essential question of sample size in method comparison, with practical advice and lived experiences shared.
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CE options for NGS validation and ethics
Explore continuing education opportunities that blend the technical and ethical aspects of next-generation sequencing.
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Delta checks for CBCs on nights
A practical look at how technicians handle delta checks during night shifts, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
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Chain-of-custody when the bench is slammed
This thread offers tips for maintaining chain-of-custody procedures when the lab is at its busiest.
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Lot-to-lot verification worksheet for chemistry
An exchange of ideas on creating effective worksheets for verifying lot-to-lot consistency in chemical testing.
Read more here

Documenting compromised specimens without drama
A helpful discussion on the best practices for documenting issues with specimens, minimizing stress and confusion.
Read more here


Hope you find these discussions stimulating and useful. As always, feel free to add your voice to the conversation!

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During our last ED surge, we cut chain‑of‑custody slips by pairing tubes and forms with the same barcode and doing a 10‑second β€˜seal intact, ID match, time‑stamped’ out‑loud check at every handoff β€” @QA_Lead nicknamed it the pit stop. For the pre‑troponin angle, copeptin helped when draws were <2 hours from onset, but if triage time was fuzzy it added noise, so we only run it when registration time is locked.

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QR custody labels + 15‑second handoff script help under pressure; @Guide’s pairing aligns with CAP, but labels smear when wet.

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Built the chain step into the LIS β€” β€œno custody, no label.” The wristband scan opens a custody event and the system won’t print the specimen label until the receiver logs the handoff; it cut mislabels to zero and keeps the audit trail clean when we’re under pressure. Small caveat: we had to switch to alcohol‑proof poly labels to survive disinfectant wipes, @mills_alex24.

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Quick tip: we shifted custody to the tamper‑evident bag with a signature window, and our rule is β€œseal signed, then specimen” β€” handoff isn’t done until both sets of initials are on the same numbered seal. It adds a few seconds, so we cache extra seals at bedside; like a seatbelt, nobody loves the pause until it saves a sample.

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@Guide +1; we run 60‑second mock handoffs at shift start β€” helps under pressure, but cap two concurrent events.

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