Specimen Requirements
Collection
Liquid EDTA K3 collection tubes are not acceptable and will be rejected due to possible dilutional effects.
Collection Instructions
Collect specimen in a lavender top EDTA K2 Vacutainer® tube or EDTA K2 Microtainer® tube. Three heparinized capillary tubes may also be filled 1/2 to 2/3 full, plugged, and placed together into a capped tube for transport. Send intact within 24 hours of collection if stored at room temperature or within 48 hours if stored refrigerated. Capillary tubes are acceptable only for manual spun Hematocrit (HCT).
Rejection Criteria
Specimens clotted, diluted with IV fluid, containing fibrin strands and clumped platelets, or in underfilled or improper tubes will be rejected. Overfilled capillary tubes will be rejected.
Normal Volume
3 ml EDTA K2 whole blood in Vacutainer® tube or 500 µl EDTA K2 whole blood in Microtainer® tube
Minimum Volume
1 ml EDTA K2 whole blood in Vacutainer® tube or 300 µl EDTA K2 whole blood in Microtainer® tube