Instructions for Collection and Transport

Transport to the laboratory ASAP. Fill tube to the stated capacity. Do not underfill or overfill past the vacuum capacity. If the patient’s know hematocrit is above 55%, an adjustment of the ratio of anticoagulant to blood is necesary. Call the laboratory for a special prepared collection tube for that hemattocrit value. Samples are stabel for 24 hours and may be left as whole blood or centrifuged. Samples should remain stoppered to prevent evaporation and possible changes in pH. Reftrigerate samples if testing is to be delayed for more than two hours. Samples held at room temperature will be accepted. Samples tat must be held longer than 24 hours must be centrifuged, aliquoted and frozen.

Centrifuge 15 minutes at a minimum speed of 3,000rpm’s. If transport is to take place more than 2 hours post collection, freez plasma and transport on dry ice. NOTE: It is very important to have platelet poor plasma before freezing. The platelet count on the aliquoted plasma must be <10,000. If the platelet count is not <10,000, respin plasma to acheive Platelet Poor Plasma threshold.