SMILE
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD USA
Specimen Acceptability Criteria - Guidelines
Specimen Acceptability Criteria
Guideline Number
Pro80-07-G
Heidi Hanes BS, MT (ASCP) SH
Effective Date
28-Oct-09
Page
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Specimen Acceptability Criteria - Guidelines
Supersedes
New
Review by
Review date
8-Feb-12
Subject
Heidi Hanes
SMILE Comments: This document is provided as an example only. It must be revised to
accurately reflect your lab’s specific processes and/or specific protocol requirements. Users are
directed to countercheck facts when considering their use in other applications. If you have any
questions contact SMILE
Audit:
Sections pertaining to Specimen Acceptability Criteria can be found in:

Specimen Transport and Management Section

Vertical Audit of SOP/Practice Section under Pre-test Specimen Handling.
CAP Accreditation Checklist:
Questions referring to Specimen Acceptability Criteria can be found in:

Laboratory General Checklist– Specimen Collection, data handling, and reporting

Immunology Checklist – Specimen Collection and Handling

Limited Service Laboratory Checklist – Specimen Collection and Handling, pages

Microbiology Checklist- Specimen Collection and Handling.

Urinalysis Checklist – Specimen Collection and Handling

Hematology-Coagulation Checklist - Specimen Collection and Handling

Flow Cytometry Checklist- Specimen Collection and Handling.

Chemistry and Toxicology Checklist-- Specimen Collection and Handling
All revised 9/27/2007.
Background Information:
The Appendix A is gives you an example of a Specimen Acceptability Criteria Table. The
information included in the table was collected from the references listed below. Use your own
method/instrument and reagent package inserts to confirm specimen criteria at your laboratory.
Appendices:
1. Appendix A -Specimen Acceptability Criteria Table
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SMILE
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD USA
Resources
1. BRMC-Cares.Com-http://www.brmc-cares.com/Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx
Weblink to Brownwood Regional Medical Center list of specimen acceptability criteria.
2. DSHS Laboratory - http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/lab/serologyTestReq.pdf
A weblink to DSHS Laboratory Serology Testing specimen criteria.
3. Gamma Dynacare - http://gammadynacare.com/clinicians/clinicians_test_directory.aspx
Weblink to Gamma Dynacare site for specimen criteria.
4. Kansas Health Laboratory http://www.kdheks.gov/virosero/download/Viral_Culture_Specimen_Collection_Guide.pd
f Weblink to Kansas Health Laboratory guidelines for virology and serology testing.
5. OC Health http://www.ochealthinfo.com/docs/public/lab/manual/03_specimen_collection/111113_specimen_collection_serology.pdf Weblink for Serology Collection Guide from
OCHealth.
6. Sacramento County Public Health http://www.sacdhhs.com/CMS/download/pdfs/PUB/PUB_SpecManSerology.pdf
Weblink to Sacramento County Public Health for Serology Specimen acceptability
critera.
7. Santa Barbara Public Health
http://www.sbcphd.org/documents/dcp/SpecreqManual_2009.pdf?ID=3758
Weblink to Santa Barbara Public Health Laboratory Manual for Specimen Acceptability.
8. North Carolina Public Health - http://slph.ncpublichealth.com/virologyserology/hepatitis.asp Weblink to North Carolina Public Health for specimen criteria.
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