Blood sampling procedure and apparatus

Claim 1

A portable device for use in biological fluid specimen gathering in specimen tubes which tubes are provided with first machine readable indicia which identifies a specific test type of a plurality of specimen test types to be performed on a specimen drawn into the tubes, each test having a different identifying indicia, said device including an onboard power source; an onboard microprocessor; an onboard label printer; an onboard scanner means for scanning the first indicia on the tubes and for scanning patient-specific machine readable second indicia associated with each patient to be tested; said microprocessor being programmed with specimen tube identification information, with patient identification information, and with specimen testing information which identifies which tests are to be performed on specimens taken from each patient; said microprocessor being operably connected to said scanner means, and to said printer to operate the latter; said printer being operable to print a specimen tube label containing patient identification and specimen testing information in both alphanumeric and machine readable form, after said scanner means have enabled said microprocessor to identify each of: the specimen test types for the tube being used; the specimen test to be performed; and the patient from whom the specimen is being drawn and said microprocessor has verified that the scanned tube is usable with the specific test identified in the spectrum testing information of each patient.

Claim 10

A method for use by a medical specimen drawer in identifying and labeling biological fluid specimen sampling tubes while gathering patient specimens, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing a portable device with an onboard power supply; an onboard microprocessor for driving an onboard label printer; and onboard scanner means for separately inputting specimen tube and patient identity information into said microprocessor; b) providing specimen sample tubes of various types which are prelabeled with first machine readable indicia which are specific to the tests which may be performed on a sample placed in the tube, said first indicia being non-patient specific such that said tubes can be used to draw specimens from any patient who is scheduled for a particular test to which the indicia are specific; c) scanning said first indicia with said onboard scanner means to identify for said microprocessor which type of tests may be performed on the specimens placed in the tube being used by the specimen drawer; d) scanning a patient-specific machine readable indicia with said onboard scanner means to identify for said microprocessor the patient being sampled; and e) printing a specimen tube label responsive to said two scanning steps, when the scanned specimin tube is usable with the particular test to be performed on the patient's specimin, the label specifying the patient; the tube type; and the tests to be performed on the specimen in both alphanumeric and machine readable forms.

Claim 11

A method for use by a medical specimen drawer in identifying and labeling biological fluid specimen sampling tubes while gathering patient specimens, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing a portable device with an onboard power supply; an onboard microprocessor for driving an onboard label printer; and onboard scanner means for separately inputting specimen tube and patient identity information into said microprocessor; b) providing specimen sample tubes of various types which are prelabeled with first machine readable indicia which are specific to the tests which may be performed on a sample placed in the tube, said first indicia being non-patient specific such that said tubes can be used to draw specimens from any patient who is scheduled for a particular test to which the indicia are specific; c) scanning said first indicia with said onboard scanner means to identify for said microprocessor which type of tests may be performed on the specimens placed in the tube being used by the specimen drawer; d) scanning a patient-specific machine readable indicia with said onboard scanner means to identify for said microprocessor the patient being sampled; and e) printing a specimen tube label responsive to said two scanning steps, when the scanned specimin tube is usable with the particular test to be performed on the patient's specimin, the label specifying the patient; the tube type; and the tests to be performed on the specimen in both alphanumeric and machine readable forms.