Specimen Requirements

Preferred Collection Container: 

Light Blue (Citrate) - Two tubes

Collection Information: 

1. Two (2.7 mL blood in a 3.0 mL) light blue top (Na Citrate) tubes. Minimum: One (2.7 mL blood in a 3.0 mL tube). 3.2% buffered sodium citrate is the only acceptable anticoagulant concentration for this testing.

2. Spin down, remove plasma, spin plasma again, and place 1.5 mL of platelet-poor plasma into 2-3 plastic vials. Each vial must contain 1.5 mL. (Glass vial is not acceptable.)

3. Double-centrifuged specimens are critical for accuracy as platelet contamination may cause spurious results.
 

4. Place into 2-3 separate plastic vials, each containing 1.5 mL of double spun plasma. Minimum 1.5 mL plasma is needed. (.75 mL in 2 vials).

5. Freeze specimens immediately at ≤ -40° C.

Remarks: 

Note: Patient should not be receiving Coumadin, unfractionated heparin, direct thrombin inhibitors, or low molecular weight heparin.