A medical assistant in an outpatient facility is preparing for a venipuncture. Which of the following actions should the assistant take to confirm the patient's identity?

To confirm a patient's identity before performing a venipuncture, asking the patient to state and spell their full name, along with providing their date of birth, is crucial for accurate identification. This method emphasizes the importance of using two unique identifiers, which is a standard practice in healthcare to prevent errors. The full name and date of birth are commonly used pieces of personal information that are less likely to change and are easily confirmed by the patient, ensuring that the medical assistant is engaging with the correct individual.

This procedure also aligns with safety protocols in healthcare, as it minimizes the risk of mistaking one patient for another. Unlike showing an insurance card or checking an identification badge, which may not directly correlate to the patient’s current identity, confirming full name and date of birth provides much more reliable verification. This careful approach is vital, given that a venipuncture involves taking blood specimens that will be used for important diagnosis and treatment decisions.