What is an unsatisfactory specimen?
A specimen is considered unsatisfactory if the specimen does not meet the laboratory’s requirements for testing. Causes of unsatisfactory specimens are caked blood (more than one drop), blood that did not soak through the filter paper, not enough blood, specimen not properly dried, applying specimen with a capillary tube, alcohol not allowed to dry completely before collection, contaminated screening card, incomplete information on screening card, as well as other reasons.