Vitamin K deficiency may be induced by obstructive liver disease, obstructive icterus, malabsorption due to celiac disease, pancreatitis, diarrhea, and antibiotic abuse; may be used to treat blood clotting disorders, bone metabolism disorders, and hemorrhagic disorders of newborns.

Patient should fast for 12 hours prior to sample collection

 Fasting for a blood test

Lavender (EDTA), 4mL

Immediatley following collection, mix sample thoroughly by gentle inverting 8 - 10 times, to prevent clotting

1. Spin within two (2) hours of sample collection
2. Transfer the plasma to an Amber transfer vial/tube - 12 mL (LabCorp), labelled as EDTA plama

Amber transfer vial/tube - 12 mL (LabCorp)

Lt green plasma separator (PST)

Gold serum separator (SST) tube

Red serum vial/tube, 5 mL

Lt green:

Immediately following collection, mix sample thoroughly by gentle inverting 8 - 10 times to prevent clotting

Gold:

Immediately following collection, thoroughly mix sample by gently inverting 5 times

Lt green:

1. Spin within two (2) hours of sample collection
2. Transfer the plasma to an Amber transfer vial/tube - 12 mL (LabCorp), labelled as Li heparin plasma

Gold:

1. Allow sample to clot for a minimum of 30 minutes
2. Spin within two (2) hours of sample collection
3. Transfer the plasma to an Amber transfer vial/tube - 12 mL (LabCorp), labelled as serum

Red:

1. Allow sample to clot
2. Spin within two (2) hours of sample collection
3. Transfer the plasma to an Amber transfer vial/tube - 12 mL (LabCorp), labelled as serum

Refrigerated (preferred) – 14 days

Ambient – 7 days

Frozen – 28 days

   Freeze/thaw cycles: stable x 3

Protect from light

• Specimen not protected from light
• Gross hemolysis
• Mild or gross lipemia

Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS)

0.10 – 2.20 ng/mL