Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Plasma, platelet poor

Container/Tube: Light-blue top (3.2% sodium citrate)

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. It is imperative that tube be completely filled. Ratio of blood to anticoagulant is critical for valid coagulation results.

2. Immediately after draw, invert tube gently 8 times to activate anticoagulant.

3. If specimen cannot be sent within 4 hours - spin down, separate plasma, and send platelet-poor plasma.

Additional Information: Only 1 light-blue top tube is necessary when testing for activated partial thromboplastin time, D-dimer, fibrinogen, and prothrombin time.