Specimen Required

Container/Tube: Blue top(sodium citrate) tube

Specimen: 1.0  mL citrated plasma ( 0.3 mL min-does not alow for repeat testing)

Transport Temperature: Freeze plasma

Collection: Blood should be collected in a blue-top tube containing 3.2% buffered sodium citrate. Evacuated collection tubes must be filled to completion to ensure a proper blood-to-anticoagulant ratio. The sample should be mixed immediately by gentle inversion at least six times to ensure adequate mixing of the anticoagulant with the blood. A discard tube is not required prior to collection of coagulation samples. When noncitrate tubes are collected for other tests, collect sterile and no additive (red-top) tubes prior to citrate (blue-top) tubes. Any tube containing an alternate anticoagulant should be collected after the blue-top tubes. Serum gel-barrier tubes and serum tubes with clot initiators should also be collected after the citrate tubes. Centrifuge for 10 minutes and (using a transfer pipette) carefully remove two-thirds of the plasma without disturbing the cells. Deliver to a plastic transport tube, cap, and recentrifuge for 10 minutes. Use a second plastic pipette to remove the plasma, staying clear of the platelets at the bottom of the tube. Transfer the plasma into a aliquot tube and freeze.