The effectiveness of inking needle core prostate biopsies for preventing patient specimen identification errors: a technique to address Joint Commission patient safety goals in specialty laboratories.
Raff LJ, Engel G, Beck KR, et al. The effectiveness of inking needle core prostate biopsies for preventing patient specimen identification errors: a technique to address Joint Commission patient safety goals in specialty laboratories. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2009;133(2):295-7. doi:10.1043/1543-2165-133.2.295.
This study used a system of coloring inks to effectively maintain specimen identity. The authors point out that this strategy addresses an important National Patient Safety Goal and may also be applicable to other laboratory practices.