Transfer Tube- Frozen- Plasma, Transfer Tube- Plasma, Light Blue Top Tube
Transport Temp
Frozen
TAT
5 days
Specimen Requirements
2 mL Frozen Citrated Plasma
Specimen Retention
Blood should be collected in a blue-top tube containing 3.2% buffered sodium citrate.[1] Evacuated collection tube must be filled to completion to ensure a proper blood to anticoagulant ratio.[2,3] 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.[4,5] When noncitrate tubes are collected for other tests, collect sterile and nonadditive (red-top) tubes prior to citrate (blue-top) tubes. Any tube containing an alternate anticoagulant should be collected after the blue-top tube. Serum gel tubes and serum tubes with clot initiators should also be collected after the citrate tubes. Centrifuge and (using a transfer pipette) carefully remove the plasma without disturbing the cells. Transfer the plasma into a plastic transport tube with screw cap. It is recommended to freeze immediately and maintain frozen until tested. To avoid delays in turn- around time when requesting multiple tests on frozen samples, please submit separate frozen specimens for each test requested.
