Instructions for Collection and Transport

Fill tube to stated capacity. Do not underfill or overfill past tube’s vacuum capacity. If the patient’s known hematocrit value is above 55%, an adjustment of the ratio of anticoagulant to blood is necessary. Call the laboratory for a special collection tube for that hematocrit value.

Test may be added up to 8 hours for specimens stored at 15-25C.

Centrifuge blood specimens at a time and speed to consistently acheive platelet-poor plasma <10,000. If testing is not completed within 24 hours for PT specimens and 4 hours for APTT and other assay specimens, plasma should be removed from the cells, aliquoted into a plastic vial and frozen at -20C for up to two weeks and -70C for up to six months.  A frost-free freezer should NOT be used.  Transport on dry ice  (Ref: CLSI H21-4A)

Note: It is very important to have platelet poor plasma before freezing. The platelet count on the aliquoted plasma should be <10,000.

Home Health Agencies: Transport to lab within 30 minutes.