Which of the following is NOT included in the guidelines for accurate specimen labeling?

Accurate specimen labeling is vital for ensuring patient safety, proper identification, and reliable test results. The guidelines for labeling specimens typically include essential information that allows for easy identification of the sample and the patient it belongs to.

The inclusion of the patient's ID number, the phlebotomist's initials, and the time and date of collection are standard practices in specimen labeling. These details not only help to confirm that the correct sample belongs to the correct patient but also track who collected the sample and when it was collected. This information is important in maintaining chain of custody and minimizing the risk of errors in testing.

While knowing the type of specimen collected is crucial for laboratory processing, it is generally implied and often recorded in laboratory systems. Nonetheless, it is not always required to be explicitly labeled on every specimen container as it can be inferred from the context or the procedures in place. Therefore, the type of specimen is not universally included in the core guidelines for specimen labeling compared to the other components that serve specific practical identification functions.