Plasma

1.  The sodium citrate tube should be filled to completion to ensure a proper blood to anticoagulant ratio.
2.  Immediately mix the tube by gentle inversion at least 6 times to ensure adequate mixing of the anticoagulant with the blood.
3.  If the patient's hemtocrit exceeds 55%, the volume of the citrate in the tube must be adjusted. (Call Ref Lab for instructions).
4.  Do not draw from an arm with a heparin lock or a heparinized catheter.
5.  To avoid delays in turn around time when requesting multiple tests on frozen samples, submit  separate frozen samples for each test requested.

Frozen: 28 days (Freeze/thaw cycles: stable x3)

Severe hemolysis; improper labeling; clotted specimen; specimen diluted with I.V. fluids; samples thawed in transit; improper sample type; sample out of stability.

85301