In recent years, data have been repeatedly published stating that most errors in the process of obtaining a laboratory result occur in the pre-analytical phase (46 % to 68.2 %). This is an area that is usually out of direct control of the laboratory, involving venous blood collection (phlebotomy). The detection of these errors is considered to be quite difficult and can therefore easily lead to a misinterpretation of laboratory results with a consequent adverse effect for the patient and even in unintended injury. The most effective way to prevent them is to have a good knowledge of the current blood collection recommendations, which were recently (2018) revised by the European Federation for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) and are offered in this review.
Keywords: closed blood collection system; guidelines; patient preparation; recommendations; venous blood collection.