One 4.5 mL light blue top tube (sodium citrate). Collect by careful venipuncture to avoid tissue fluid contamination or hemolysis. Do not use needles smaller than 23 gauge. Fill tube to maximum draw, at least 3/4 full. Mix by gentle inversion.
Handling:
Refrigerate and keep capped in original tube if specimen will be received in the laboratory within 8 hours. If not, centrifuge and transfer plasma to a plastic tube, and freeze. Label with patient name, test, and ‘plasma.’ If multiple tests are ordered, freeze a separate aliquot for each test. Send to the laboratory within one month.
Standard Volume:
4.5 mL whole blood or 2 mL plasma.
Minimum Volume:
0.5 mL whole blood or plasma.
Transport:
Original tube refrigerated if received in laboratory within 8 hours of collection, pr plasma frozen on dry ice.
Serum; visible fibrin; moderate to marked hemolysis; refrigerated specimen received at laboratory more than 8 hours after collection.
Interpretative Data:
<5 µg/mL
Increased FDPs are observed with fibrinolytic conditions (liver disease, prostate cancer, streptokinase/tpa therapy), and DIC. D-Dimer, Quantitative (25280) specifically detects fibrin fragments produced after clot formation, and so is more specific for DIC. The generic FDP test, Fibrin Split Products (FDP), Non-D-Dimer (25270) will detect both fibrin and fibrinogen degradation products. If the FDP test is positive and the D-Dimer is negative, primary fibrinolysis rather than DIC is suggested.
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