Unique

identifiers

A unique identifier is an important tool for managing information, and careful

thought should be given for how best to assign identifiers to patients and samples

within the information management system.

Patient identifiers$$Sometimes hospitalized patients are assigned a unique

identifier upon admission, to be used for the duration of the hospital stay.

A patient may get a new number each time he$/$she is seen or admitted.

In other settings, the unique identifier may be assigned to the patient on a more

permanent basis, to be used each time the patient has any health care.

Sample identifiers$$Laboratories need to assign unique identifiers to patient

samples so they can be tracked throughout the laboratory.

The method for generating and assigning unique identifiers within an

information management system will depend on many factors. Some

commercially available computer systems for laboratories have a numbering

system built in to the software. Laboratories using paper$-$based systems will need

to establish their own system.

An example of a simple system for generating unique identifiers is as follows.

Consider using a number consisting of the year, the month, the day, and a four

digit number: YYMMDDXXXX$.$ At the beginning of each day, the last four

digits start with the number $0001.$

For example, the number $0905130047$ can be read $0405130047,$ and it would

represent: sample #$47,$ received on May $13,2009.$

To avoid confusion or mix$-$up of samples use the sample$$s full identifying

number throughout the laboratory. At a minimum, the unique number will need

to be used on all aliquots of the sample, on the request form, the laboratory

register or log$,$ and the result sheet.

Whatever system a laboratory chooses, unique identifiers should be used to

eliminate confusion and mix$-$up of samples, and make samples and information

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