Answer: D - When drawing a specimen for a blood alcohol level, the medical assistant should be especially careful to introduce alcohol from the skin wipe into the specimen. This could falsely elevate the results of the blood alcohol level. Correctly identifying any patient prior to blood withdrawal is considered the first step in the venipuncture procedure. Correctly identifying a patient who is having blood collected for blood alcohol levels may be required for legal purposes and required by requesting agency. Correct labeling and packaging is also necessary to protect and prove sample was not tampered with.
