What are the common errors in specimen collection that can affect test results?

Common errors include misidentification of patient, mislabeling of specimen, short draws or wrong anticoagulant to blood ratio, mixing problems or clots, wrong tubes or wrong anticoagulant, hemolysis or lipemia, hemoconcentration from prolonged tourniquet tying, exposure to light or extreme temperatures, improperly timed specimens, delayed delivery to laboratory, and processing errors such as incomplete centrifugation and improper storage. Hemolysis specifically affects test results for Potassium, Magnesium, Iron, LDH, Phosphorus, Ammonia, and Total protein. (Page 9)