Specimen Requirements

1. Do not draw specimen from an arm with a heparin lock or heparinized catheter.

2. Draw a full, light blue-top (3.2% sodium citrate) tube. Invert 6 times to mix blood.

3. Heparinized patient samples must be spun within 1 hour of draw and tested within 2 hours of draw.

4. Routine samples can be left on the cells for up to 4 hours at room temperature. If unable to perform testing within 4 hours, centrifuge, separate and freeze the plasma.

5. Centrifuge specimen for 10 minutes at 3,000 rpm, remove plasma and place 0.5 mL of citrate plasma in plastic vial. (Glass vial is not acceptable.)

6. Send specimen refrigerated. If there is a delay in transport of ≥4 hours, send specimen frozen in plastic vial.

Note: 

1. The following specimens will be rejected:

A. Clotted or hemolyzed specimen

B. Hematocrit >55%

C. Incorrect anticoagulant

D. Overfilled or underfilled tube

2. Label specimen with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and time of draw, and phlebotomist’s initials.