Specimen Requirements

Collect specimen as follows:
1. Draw blood in light blue-top (3.2% sodium citrate) tube(s). Separate plasma from cells within 1 hour of collection in a centrifuge at 2,500 rpm for 15 minutes or 3,000 rpm for 10 minutes.
2. Using a plastic transfer pipette (do not use a glass pipette) decant the plasma to a screw-capped, plastic (polypropylene) vial. (Glass vial is not acceptable.)
3. Obtain a platelet count on the platelet-poor plasma. If the platelet count is >10,000, respin the specimen and repeat steps 2 and 3 until the platelet count is <10,000.
4. Divide the specimen into as many 0.5 to 1 mL aliquots as possible and cap the vial(s) tightly.
5. Freeze specimen(s) immediately at ≤-40º C.
6. Send specimen(s) FROZEN on dry ice.

Note: 1. Type of heparin used is required on request form for processing (ie, unfractionated, Lovenox, Fragmin, or Tinzaparin).

2. SPECIMENS WILL BE REJECTED IF UNDERFILLED (< 90%), CLOTTED, HIGH HEMATOCRIT (> 55%), OR GROSSLY HEMOLYZED.
3. Follow special procedure for drawing specimen from an A-line.