Two (2) Lt blue Sodium citrate (NaCit) - 2.7mL

• Do not draw from an arm with a heparin lock or heparinized catheter
• Immediately following collection, mix sample thoroughly by gentle inverting 8 - 10 times to prevent clotting

1. Spin
2. Transfer plasma to an aliquot tube
3. Spin a second time
4. Transfer plasma to a Screw-cap polypropylene frozen transport vial/tube - 4mL (LabCorp), labelled as Na cit plasma
5. Freeze

Screw-cap polypropylene frozen transport vial/tube - 4mL (LabCorp)

Frozen (srict) – 12 months

Refrigerated – NO

Ambient – NO

• Severe hemolysis
• Improper labeling
• Clotted specimen
• Specimen diluted with IV fluids
• Samples thawed in transit
• Improper sample type
• Sample out of stability

In the ELT test, plasma inhibitors of fibrinolysis are physically removed and the reaction of fibrinogen, plasminogen, and plasminogen activators are assayed. The precipitate also includes tissue plasminogen activators, plasminogen, plasmin, and fibrinogen. The inhibitors of lysis, α2-antiplasmin, and α2-macroglobulin, do not precipitate. In the test system, the euglobulin precipitate is redissolved in buffer, and clotting is initiated with calcium. The assay is performed in a microtiter plate. The time required for the intrinsic plasmin to lyse the fibrin clot equates to the euglobulin lysis time.

Normal

Abnormal (see result interpretation)

This is a semiquantitative assay. The diagnostic potential of euglobulin lysis times is limited by the extreme variation in lysis times among healthy individuals.6 Both hypofibrinogenemia and factor XIII deficiency may result in a shortened lysis time. In the case of hypofibrinogenemia, the shortened time is due to the decreased amount of fibrin to be lysed. In factor XIII deficiency, the clot is not stabilized by covalent cross-linking of fibers and can be readily lysed by plasmin.