What is a common cause of hemolysis of laboratory specimens?

Mechanical injury during the drawing of blood specimens is a recognized common cause of hemolysis in laboratory samples. When blood is drawn, if excessive force is applied through the use of a needle that is too small or if the technique used to collect the blood is improper, it can cause the red blood cells to rupture. Hemolysis occurs when these cells break apart, releasing their contents into the surrounding plasma and thereby compromising the sample's integrity.

This type of hemolysis can lead to inaccurate laboratory results, as substances released from the lysed cells can interfere with various assays, particularly those that measure analytes typically found within red blood cells. Therefore, ensuring that blood is drawn using the correct technique and appropriate equipment is crucial for obtaining valid test results.

While improper storage, using expired tubes, and inadequate volume in the tube can also affect the quality of laboratory specimens, they do not specifically relate to the mechanical disruption of red blood cells that is characteristic of hemolysis.