Patient cannot be on Coumadin, Lepirudin, or Argatroban

 Lt blue Sodium citrate (Na Cit) - 2.7mL

• Patients on Heparin must be drawn just prior to next dose; do not draw immediately after dose.
• Sample may be drawn 5 days after coumadin has been stopped or 48 hours after Vit K administration.
• Do not over or under fill tube as the ratio of anticoagulant to whole blood is critical

Coag – tube fill guidelines

• If the patient has a hematocrit >55, a specially prepared Lt blue Sodium citrate (NaCit) tube must be used in place of the standard Lt blue Sodium citrate (NaCit) tube.

Hematocrit-Anticoagulant adjustments

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

• Process Platelet Poor Plasma (P.P.P)

  • Coag – how to prepare a specimen for special coagulation testing

• Transfer plasma into an aliquot tube using a spot label "NaCit Plasma P.P.P" to label as platelet poor plasma
• Freeze immediately

Microcentrifuge vial/tube in a Snap cap conical vial/tube and cap (Beaker sites)

Coagulation specimen transport vial/tube  (all other sites)

Frozen (strict)

Refrigerated - NO

• Specimens collected in Greiner tubes
• Improper labeling (unlabeled or mislabeled)
• Improper anticoagulant
• Improperly filled tube
• Hemolysis
• Clotted specimen
• Delay in transport
• Improper storage/transport temperature
• Patient on heparin > 1.0 IU/mL

Chromogenic assay

70 - 150%