Specimen Requirements

Citrated whole blood, EDTA whole blood and sodium citrate plasma are required for this test.

Citrated Whole Blood for PFA

Collection Container/Tube: Draw a full, light blue-top (3.2% sodium citrate) tube, and send 3.5 mL of unprocessed sodium citrate whole blood.

Labeling and Transport Instructions:

• Do not transport specimen in pneumatic tube.
• Specimen must be hand delivered to laboratory, and test must be analyzed within 4 hours of draw.
• Do not centrifuge.
• Forward unprocessed whole blood promptly at ambient temperature only.
• Reason for test is required on request form for processing.
• Label specimen appropriately (citrated whole blood for PFA).

EDTA Whole Blood for Platelet Count

Collection Container/Tube: Draw blood in a lavender-top (EDTA) tube(s), and send 1 mL of unprocessed EDTA whole blood.

Labeling and Transport Instructions:

• Do not centrifuge.
• Forward unprocessed whole blood promptly at ambient temperature only.
• Label specimen appropriately (EDTA whole blood for platelet count).
• Specimen must arrive within 24 hours of draw.

Sodium Citrate Plasma for APTT, Fibrinogen, PT, and TT

Collection Container/Tube:  Draw blood in a light blue-top (3.2% sodium citrate) tube(s).

Collection Instructions:

• Immediately after draw, gently invert tube(s) at least 6 times to mix well.
• Spin down, remove plasma, spin plasma again, and send 4 mL of plasma divided into 4 plastic vials each containing 1 mL of citrate, platelet-poor plasma.
• Double-centrifuged specimens are critical for accurate results as platelet contamination may cause spurious results.
• Glass vial is not acceptable.
• Freeze specimens immediately at -20° C.
• Plasma containing Heparin (patients being treated with Heparin) MUST be centrifuged and plasma separated within 1 hour

Labeling and Transport Instructions:

• Send specimens frozen.
• Label specimens appropriately (plasma for APTT, fibrinogen, PT, and TT).