One 4.5 mL light blue top tube (sodium citrate). Collect by careful venipuncture to avoid tissue contamination hemolysis. Do not use needles smaller than 23 gauge. Fill tube to maximum draw, at least 90% full. Mix by gentle inversion.
Handling:
Refrigerate and keep capped in original tube if specimen will be received at the laboratory within 2 hours. If not, centrifuge to produce platelet-poor plasma, transfer to a plastic tube and freeze quickly. Label with patient name, test, and ‘plasma.’ If multiple tests are ordered, freeze a separate aliquot for each test. Send to the laboratory within 7 days.
Stability:
4 hours refrigerated, or 14 days frozen.
Standard Volume:
4.5 mL whole blood or 2 mL plasma.
Minimum Volume:
1.8 mL whole blood or 1 mL plasma.
Transport:
Original tube refrigerated if received in laboratory within 2 hours of collection, or plasma frozen on dry ice.
Comments:
Factor VIII is absent in clinically affected (homozygous Factor XIII deficient) patients.
Rejection Criteria:
Visible fibrin; moderate to marked hemolysis; refrigerated specimen received in laboratory more than 2 hours after collection.
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