A hemolyzed specimen is most often caused by

• A. The patient
• B. The laboratory computer
• C. The phlebotomist
• D. The sample being frozen

Answer: (C)

Hemolyzed samples occur when red blood cells are damaged and rupture, releasing hemoglobin into the plasma. The most frequent cause is how the blood is collected and handled—technique controlled by the phlebotomist. When the needle is too small, when blood is drawn with excessive suction or too quickly, or when the sample is mixed or transferred too forcefully, cells can be mechanically injured and hemolyze. Similarly, drawing through an IV line or catheter, or shaking a specimen vigorously, increases the risk. These errors are common because they stem from everyday collection practices that we can control and correct.

In contrast, factors like the patient’s condition can contribute in some cases, but they’re less often the primary cause. The sample being frozen is not a typical cause of hemolysis during collection, and a lab computer or instrument itself doesn’t create this type of cell rupture.