Specimen Management

October, 2021 Quick Question: Blue-top Tube Shortage

Our October 2021 Quick Question asked, “How are you managing the blue-top tube shortage?” We had a brisk response with 22 participants answering as follows: We have seen no shortage: 32% [7] Purchase control plasmas: 0% Alternate tube source: 41% [9] Prep our own tubes: 9% [2] Reduce coag orders. 18% [4] Although a third […]

Quick Question Archive

Blood Collection Tube Shortages

In a follow-up to our June 2021 posts describing blue-closure [3.2% sodium citrate] tube shortage, it appears from several anecdotes that while the industry is slowly catching up to blue-closure tube demands, there remain shortages in green-closure [heparin] and other tubes. Meanwhile, we alert worldwide facilities to the availability of tubes through online suppliers of […]

Specimen Management

Coag Specimens, Delayed Analysis, Centrifugation

From a colleague: Hi George, I was having a discussion with a colleague regarding the proper or best way to handle a coagulation sample if the processing was going to be delayed [~4 hrs]. Your name popped up, so hence my email: Option 1: the sample is spun when received and then analyzed later. Our […]

Specimen Management

Additional Source for Blue-closure Tubes

Here is a July 22, 2021 FDA announcement indicating an emergency use authorization for BD Vacutainer blue-closure tubes sourced from the UK. Thanks to Elaine Benoit, Precision BioLogic Inc., for drawing our attention to the announcement. The FDA is attempting to address the blue-closure tube shortage we discussed in prior posts.

Specimen Management

Blue-closure Tube Shortage: Another Choice

In follow-up to our June 19 post describing how to make a 3.2% trisodium citrate solution, guru Bob Gosselin ran across Aniara’s ready-made solution [click]. An easier approach than Dr. Favaloro’s manual mix [with apologies]. Thanks, Bob!

Specimen Management

Blue-closure Tube Shortage: Manual Citrate Solution

In response to the blue-closure tube shortage, I [Geo] contacted several colleagues who prepare or who used to prepare their own 3.2% [and pre-2000, 3.8%] sodium citrate solution for hemostasis specimens. Nearly all said that, like your grandmother, the recipe was just in their heads. Dr. Emanuel Favaloro, Sydney, NSW, dug into his laboratory archives […]

Specimen Management

FDA Statement: Blue-closure Tube Shortage

Thanks to colleague Mary Coleman for the heads-up introducing this FDA Statement: June 10, 2021 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA] is aware that the U.S. is experiencing significant interruptions in the supply of sodium citrate blood specimen collection [light blue top] tubes because of an increase in demand and recent vendor supply challenges. […]

Specimen Management

More About the Blue-closure Tube Shortage

Thanks to Dennis Ernst, MT(ASCP), NCPT(NCCT), Director of the Center for Phlebotomy Education, for contacting BD and Greiner about the current sodium citrate tube shortage. Please refer to our May 17 post describing this issue and see comments from Dennis [which includes BD’s recommendations], and from Bob Gosselin, who surveyed several colleagues and learned of […]

Specimen Management

Blue-closure Tube Shortage

Thanks to Dave McGlasson for a link to Facebook page, Medical Laboratory Science Hidden Heroes where on May 14, Amy Irwin asked, “So from what I hear the Na citrate blue top tube shortage is nationwide. What is your plan for anyone experiencing this?” Checking an April 16 NPR News report, there is a nationwide […]

Specimen Management

Thawing Coag Specimens

I [Geo] received this question on 4-6-21 from Don Wahl, Core Laboratory Manager, Sanford USD Medical Center, Sioux Falls, SD. “Why do coagulation tests need to be quick- thawed at 37°C? If samples are thawed at room temperature what would be the effect on the coagulation testing?” Hello, Don, and thank you for your question. […]

Specimen Management

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George Fritsma is a medical laboratory scientist, educator, and author. George holds faculty appointments with Rutgers University and Michigan State University, and is a member of the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis, American Association of Clinical Chemists, and American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.

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