Specimen Requirements

Preparation of Patient:

None

Container Type:

Pink-top (EDTA) tube

Specimen Type:

EDTA Whole Blood

Specimen Volume:

6 mL of EDTA whole blood minimum 1mL EDTA whole blood

Collection Instructions:

1. Immediately upon collection pretransfusion blood specimens are labeled at the time of specimen collection in the presence of the patient with:

1. Patient's first and last name
2. Unique identificiation number (medical record#)
3. Date of collection and time
4. Initials of individual collecting the specimen if not oracle label

2. Oracle label or hand labeled with black or blue ink is acceptable for labeling pretransfusion specimens.  Chart label is acceptable for ABO2 ABO/Rh Retype only.

3. Pretransfusion blood specimen collectors are recorded in the laboratory information system.

Specimen Handling/Transport:

4°C refrigerated or room temperature

Specimen Stability/Storage:

14 day(s) at 4°C refrigerated

Specimen Rejection:

Gross hemolysis