Collection Instructions

If PT is drawn in conjunction with APTT use APTT specimen requirements for handling instructions.

Specimen Collection: Blood

Container(s): 3.2% Na Citrate Tube (blue top)

Preferred Volume to Collect: 2.7 mL (full 2.7 ml Na Citrate blue tube)

Minimum Volume to Collect: 1.8 mL (full 1.8 ml Na Citrate blue white tube)

Capillary collect ok: No

Microtainer acceptable: No

Collection Instructions:

• Detailed instructions (link): Anticoagulant Correction for High Hematocrit

• Detailed collection instructions (link): Blue Citrate Tube

• Specimen should be processed within 24 hours – See Processing Instructions below. Specimen may be left unprocessed (unspun) for 24 hours.

Processing Instructions (Laboratory, Outpatient or Off-site collection)

• Processed Specimen: Platelet Poor Plasma with a platelet count <10 X 10⁹/L
• Centrifuge/Spin: Yes
• Aliquot: Yes
• Processing Instructions:
  • Detailed instructions (link): Preparing Platelet Poor Plasma
  • Separate plasma into 2 - 3 aliquots, minimum of 0.5 mL each.
  • Freeze aliquots in plastic transport tubes immediately.

• Transport Temperature:

  • Ambient - up to 24 hours in whole blood state (unspun)
  • Frozen - plasma only >24 hours