Plasma More information

Full draw; 1.8 mL light blue top (mix well). Tube must be at least 90% full.

Short drawn tube, clot, traumatic tap (excessive hemolysis).

1 hour (upon receipt in laboratory)

9-12 seconds

INR Critical Reference Value: greater than 3.9

The INR corresponding to the PT is reported to assist in the monitoring of oral anticoagulants. Must be drawn swiftly with a clean venipuncture (no hematoma). Time drawn must be indicated on requisition. A PT can be performed on a sample if it is kept unopened and uncentrifuged at room temperature to be delivered to lab within 12 hours. A special tube from the lab is necessary if the hematocrit is over 55%.

Prothrombin Time may be performed on the same collection tube as Activated Partial Thromboplastin time (aPTT) and Fibrinogen.

Core Lab instrumentation changed from BCS-XP to CS-5100 on 12/16/2019.

Please print, complete and submit the Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) along with the Laboratory Requisition before shipping the specimen.

Optical clot detection.

Centrifuge within four hours of draw time.
Centrifuge at a speed and time necessary to get barrier separation of plasma/serum and cells.
Separate plasma into plastic container and cap (glass is not acceptable).
Centrifuge a second time to ensure platelet poor plasma and separate plasma into a new, labeled plastic tube, cap.

Freeze plasma immediately.

Place labeled specimen into zip-lock type biohazard bag; seal bag.
Place requisition into outside pocket of bag.
Place dry ice on top of specimen in Styrofoam container to maintain frozen temperature.

85610

See also:
Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT), Plasma

See Additional Information:
Hematology Critical Lab Values
International Normalized Ratio (INR)
Hemolysis Chart
Phlebotomy Tubes and Order of Draw