scope:

This document presents a standard for specimen label content, format, and placement. This document is intended for health care providers; laboratory information system (LIS) vendors, diagnostic vendors, and vendors that manufacture labels and/or label printers; and for all other entities that collect, prepare, or handle patient specimens and must use, print, or read specimen labels. With some exceptions, such as slides and pediatric specimens that have limited label space, this standard is applicable to all laboratory specimens from the point of collection, including all transfers of specimens from one provider to another.

The scope is limited, as described in Sections 1.1 to 1.7, to reduce complexity in both developing and implementing the standard.