PTT (Partial Thromboplastin Time)

PTT, APTT

Used to monitor treatments with thrombin inhibitors and during heparin or oral anticoagulant therapy

Interference: When monitoring heparin therapy, any release of platelet factor 4 (PF4) which is a potent inhibitor of heparin, represents a major source of error

Plasma

Light Blue
Aliquot Tube

Light Blue - Centrifuge immediately, transfer plasma to aliquot tube and freeze at less than -20°C.

The sodium citrate collection tube must be filled to 90% of capacity.

The sodium citrate collection tube must be filled to 90% of capacity.

Centrifuge immediately for 15 minutes at 2000-2500 g. Transfer the plasma to an aliquot tube and store frozen at ≤ -20°C. DO NOT store plasma at 2° - 8°C

 CP Accessioning instructions when receiving a sample at room temperature:

Centrifuge, in the small centrifuge, at 4500 for 15 mins – aliquot the plasma into a plastic tube, then centrifuge the aliquoted Plasma at 4500 for 15 mins.  Aliquot this plasma into a plastic tube leaving any remaining cells in the bottom of the aliquot (try not to disturb the bottom 0.2 mL of this 2nd centrifuged tube and you should be good). If a tech can run immediately, you do not need to freeze, otherwise freeze.

Plasma Na Citrate
  - Frozen (preferred): 14 days
  - Room Temperature: 4 hours
  - Refrigerated: Unacceptable

Unspun Whole Blood in Na Citrate
 -Room temperature: 4 hours
 -Refrigerated: Unacceptable
 -Frozen: Unacceptable

Refrigerated specimen; Quantity not sufficent; improperly labeled specimens; specimens not collected in 3.2% buffered sodium citrate tube; clotted specimens; under or over filled specimen tubes; severe hemolysis; improperly labeled specimens

Automated

0-2 days

Monday-Saturday, & STAT

85730

25.1-38.9 seconds

None

Incyte Diagnostics

14979-9