Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 24 hours of draw.

Capillary specimens collected in a MAP microtube must be tested within 4 hours of collection.

Keep specimens refrigerated.

Whole Blood

Draw blood in a lavender-top (K2-EDTA) tube. For pediatric specimens, collect blood in a lavender-top BD Microtainer® MAP Microtube. Invert several times to mix and to avoid clotting. Label the specimen with the patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and time of draw and the phlebotomist’s initial’s. Send whole blood refrigerated.

*Collection tube must be filled to ½ of its intended total volume to ensure adequate blood to anticoagulant ratio. 

Specimen stability:

24 hours at room temperature or refrigerated / 4 hours at room temperature if capillary

*Smear preparation on specimens older than 4 hours may exhibit a loss of cellular integrity.
                                    

Minimum volume:

500 µL

Specimen rejection criteria:

Clotted blood

Specimens that are >24 hours venous or >4 hours capillary

Collection tube is less than one-half its intended volume

Improper patient identification