Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Blue Top Tube

Drawn at Hospital:

1.  Draw as a discard 1 Plain Red top tube then the Blue top tube to be used for testing
2. Place Blue top tube on ice
3. Centrifuge within 1 hour of draw and freeze 1 ml of plasma
4. Must provide what type of Heparin patient is on, example:  Lovenox,Fragmin or Orgaran

Drawn at Offsite location:

1.  Draw as a discard 1 Plain Red top tube then the Blue top tube to be used for testing
2. 2.  Place Blue top tube on ice
3. Centrifuge within 1 hour of draw and aliquot 1 ml of plasma into a pour off vial
4. Place plasma in a bag with ice
5. Ship specimen with our courier to the main lab and the main lab will then freeze the specimen

Special Test Instructions: A Red top tube must be drawn prior to drawing the Blue top tube to be used for testing.  Must indicate on the paperwork what Blood thinner is being used:  Lovenox,Fragmin or Orgaran…..the testing lab needs to know this information to perform testing.