Collection Mix well and send immediately on ice. Must be delivered to the laboratory within 4 hours of collection. If testing is delayed, centrifuge specimen, remove, and freeze plasma (-30°C).
Storage Instructions Separate plasma and freeze at -30°C if sample cannot be processed immediately.
Patient Preparation Coumadin® therapy should be discontinued for 2 weeks prior to test; heparin therapy should be discontinued 2 days prior to collection of the specimen. Hemophiliac patients must not have been treated with replacement therapy for 5 days prior to the collection of the specimen.
Causes for Rejection Specimen clotted, hemolyzed, diluted, QNS, or contaminated; specimen received more than 1 hour after collection; patient receiving Coumadin® or heparin therapy within the specified time limits; specimen does not meet labeling requirements
