Timing, specimen options and instructions reflect the source snapshot.
FROM COLLECTION TO THE LAB
Specimen & handling
Specimen
Whole blood
Container
Blue-top (sodium citrate) tube – Whole blood.
Collection instructions
Blue-top (sodium citrate) tube – Whole blood.
Processing
Centrifuge blood samples for 15 minutes at 2000-2500 g. Collect plasma in plastic tube; Using a plastic pipette remove plasma without disturbing the buffy coat. Perform centrifugation within 1 hour after sample collection. Plasma must be free of platelets. Freeze immediately and ship on dry ice.
Storage
Room temperature.
Stability
Unopened (Whole Blood): Room Temperature: 48 hours. Separated-platelet poor plasma: Frozen: 14 days Refrigerated: Unacceptable Causes for Rejection: Underfilled tubes (< 90 % full) OR Over-filled •Incorrect anticoagulant or anticoagulant ratio (e.g.,>3.2%trisodiumcitrateorEDTA,etc.) •Clotted specimens •Specimen received with mismatched or no patient identifiers. •Specimen received outside of stability requirements.
Technical information & codes+
Methodology
Automated Clotting Time
CPT code
85610
Codes are shown for identification from the source snapshot. Confirm current coding and billing information with the laboratory.
