Specimen Management

QQ for 7-17: Specimen Storage

Our July, 2017 Quick Question was, “How do you store plasma specimens when coagulation testing is delayed to beyond 48 hours?“ We totaled 86 responses, and here are the results: Controlled refrigerator at 1–6°C 9% (8) Controlled freezer at –20°C 33% (28) Household freezer at ~ –20°C 3% (3) Controlled freezer at –70°C 55% (47) […]

Quick Question Archive

Antithrombin Specimens

From Odetta Hanna, Sekisui Diagnostics: Hello, I am looking for information about the percentage of fresh-vs- frozen samples tested for antithrombin in laboratories.

Specimen Management

May We Load Syringes with Anticoagulant?

Though we collect most hemostasis specimens using evacuated tubes, we often resort to syringes when patient veins are small or fragile. Many of us specify syringe collection for global whole blood assays and platelet function tests. George recalls a time when we would load the syringe with a measured volume of sodium citrate anticoagulant prior […]

Specimen Management

Quick Question: Specimen Storage

On June 28, hemostasis researcher Dave McGlasson asked George, “what temperatures do most of us use to store centrifuged, platelet-poor plasma when testing is delayed?” We assumed most of us use –70ºC freezers, but it may be that many lab practitioners use alternative specimen storage protocols. George offered to post Dave’s question as our July, […]

Specimen Management

Quick Question: Specimen Hemolysis

Here are the 6-7-17 results of our latest Quick Question survey. The topic of specimen hemolysis came up in a lengthy December 6, 2016 entry featuring comments from Dennis Ernst, Center for Phlebotomy Education. Q: What approach do your facility’s nurses use to reduce specimen hemolysis at the time they are starting IVs? a. Collect […]

Quick Question Archive

Stopping a Heparin Infusion to Collect a Specimen

Here is a question forwarded by friend and colleague Dennis Ernst, Center for Phlebotomy Education. When we must draw from the arm with fluids infusing, our policy has always been that the RN must pause the IV. If the IV is in the other arm, we do not ask the nurses to pause the infusion […]

Specimen Management

PPP Validation

From Heather DeVries: Greetings! We were inspected by CAP this week, and at one facility they questioned the validation of PPP. Our current procedure, written in 2001, states that the AVERAGE of 10 specimens must yield a platelet count of less than 5000/uL in order to validate a centrifuge. At the facility in question, one […]

Specimen Management

More on Polycythemia and Anticoagulant Volume

More on anticoagulant adjustment from Heather DeVries: There is more to our story on adjusting sodium citrate for high hematocrits. We have a pediatric patient who is getting multiple draws, for multiple assays, throughout the day. Sometimes there is PT and/or PTT, but sometimes not. The techs are confused as to when the draw must […]

Specimen Management

Polycythemia and Anticoagulant Volume

From Heather DeVries, Indiana University Health: Greetings George! A couple of sites within our system are evaluating our process for correcting tubes. One mentioned CLSI guidelines, and when I looked, they keep it very simple, saying that removal of 0.1 mL of citrate will cover hematocrits between 55 and 65%. Historically, we have calculated to […]

Specimen Management

Short Draws

This 12/23/16 “short draw” question from Adam McMullen is copied from MEDLAB-L, hosted by Pat LeTendre. Adam and Pat have granted permission for its reproduction here. Hello, We use BD Vacutainer® 2.7 mL for routine coagulation testing–PT/INR, PTT, and fibrinogen. These tubes provide a minimum fill line. Our policy requires we adhere to this line, […]

Specimen Management

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George Fritsma is a medical laboratory scientist, educator, and author. George is a member of the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis, the International Society for Laboratory Hematology, and the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.

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