| Specimen Required: |
Collect: Blue-top (sodium citrate) tube - Whole blood .
Specimen Preparation: Blood should be collected in a blue-top tube containing 3.2% buffered sodium citrate.
The sample should be mixed immediately by gentle inversion at least six times to ensure adequate mixing of the anticoagulant with the blood.
Storage/Transport Temperature: Specimens are stable at room temperature for 24 hours.
Stability: Ambient: 24 hours ; Frozen plasma: 2 weeks
Causes for Rejection: Gross hemolysis; clotted specimen; frozen plasma
thawed in transit; specimen collected in tube other than 3.2% citrate |