Medical Laboratory Science Reality Check: Myths and Facts

Purpose

The Myth vs Fact Activity is designed to help learners identify common misconceptions within medical laboratory science and replace them with accurate, evidence-based knowledge. By correcting misunderstandings, learners will improve patient safety, maintain compliance with UK regulations, and strengthen professional practice.

The activity promotes critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and applied understanding of laboratory procedures, quality standards, and professional responsibilities. It also encourages learners to link theoretical knowledge with practical workplace application.

Instructions for Learners

1. Review the statements provided in the table.
2. Identify each statement as a myth or fact.
3. Provide a detailed explanation or justification for each choice.
4. Reference relevant UK legislation, regulations, and professional standards where appropriate.
5. Reflect on how the fact affects workplace practice, patient safety, and professional responsibilities.
6. Add at least 5 additional statements based on your own workplace experiences, identifying myths and facts with explanations.

Word count guidance: 1,000–1,200 words.

Myth vs Fact Statements with Detailed Explanation

Statement	Myth/Fact	Detailed Explanation & UK Regulatory Reference	Workplace Implication & Example
Blood samples can be labelled after collection.	Myth	Correct labelling must occur immediately after sample collection to avoid patient misidentification. ISO 15189:2012 requires positive patient identification and immediate labelling. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) protocols emphasize correct identification to prevent transfusion errors.	Mislabelled samples can lead to incorrect test results, misdiagnosis, and potentially life threatening treatments. Example: A mislabelled blood culture may lead to inappropriate antibiotic therapy.
Quality control is optional if the lab has experienced staff.	Myth	Quality control is mandatory, regardless of staff experience, to ensure accuracy and reliability of test results. ISO 15189 requires internal QC procedures. UKAS accreditation standards also mandate documented QC procedures.	Skipping QC may result in false positives or negatives. Example: A chemistry analyser producing slightly inaccurate glucose readings may lead to improper insulin dosing.
Only biomedical scientists can handle clinical samples.	Myth	While biomedical scientists oversee testing, trained laboratory technicians may perform routine procedures under supervision. Scope of practice is regulated by Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) standards.	Allows effective workforce utilisation while maintaining safety and quality. Example: Phlebotomy can be performed by trained technicians, but result interpretation is done by biomedical scientists.
PPE is required only when working with infectious samples.	Myth	PPE must be used consistently for all clinical samples to prevent cross-contamination. Governed by COSHH 2002 and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.	Protects staff from chemical and biological hazards. Example: Wearing gloves and lab coats when handling chemical reagents or patient urine samples prevents exposure to pathogens and harmful substances.
Errors in laboratory results should always be reported.	Fact	Mandatory reporting ensures patient safety and allows corrective measures. ISO 15189 and HCPC standards require documentation and reporting of errors, near misses, and adverse events.	Prevents repeat errors and supports quality improvement. Example: Reporting a mislabelled sample enables identification of process failures, leading to SOP revision.
Pre-analytical errors are less significant than analytical errors.	Myth	Pre-analytical errors (e.g., wrong patient, improper sample collection) are the most common source of lab errors, contributing up to 70% of mistakes according to NHS studies.	Emphasises careful handling at the collection stage. Example: Drawing blood into the wrong tube type can invalidate test results before analysis even begins.
All lab procedures are standardized and do not require SOPs.	Myth	Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are essential to ensure reproducibility, compliance, and quality. ISO 15189 mandates documented procedures for all laboratory processes.	SOPs reduce variability and ensure safe, accurate testing. Example: Following a written SOP for centrifugation avoids sample hemolysis due to improper handling.
Confidentiality is optional if the lab is small.	Myth	Confidentiality is legally required under the UK Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR. Patient information must be protected in all circumstances.	Ensures privacy and legal compliance. Example: Even in a small lab, sharing patient test results without consent can lead to breaches and fines.
Calibration of lab equipment can be skipped if results seem normal.	Myth	All laboratory equipment must be regularly calibrated according to ISO 15189 and UKAS requirements to guarantee accuracy.	Prevents reporting of inaccurate test results. Example: A spectrophotometer must be calibrated to avoid misreporting protein concentrations in patient samples.
External quality assessment (EQA) participation is optional.	Myth	Participation in EQA schemes is required for ISO 15189 compliance. It verifies lab performance against national standards.	Supports continuous quality improvement. Example: Labs participating in the UK NEQAS hematology scheme can benchmark their results against other labs to identify discrepancies.

Additional Learner Task

• Learners must create a personalized myth vs fact table with at least 5 new statements relevant to their laboratory context.
• Each statement should include:
  • Whether it is a myth or fact
  • Detailed explanation
  • UK regulatory references
  • Practical workplace implications

Reflection

After completing the activity, learners will write a short reflection (200–300 words) on:

• How identifying myths has improved their understanding of laboratory practices
• The importance of compliance with UK legislation and professional standards
• How this knowledge can enhance patient safety, workflow efficiency, and quality assurance