Blood Specimen Collection Grey Tube
Short Description:
This tube contains potassium oxalate as an anticoagulant and sodium fluoride as a preservative – used to preserve glucose in whole blood and for some special chemistry tests.
When plasma is required,follow these steps.
1.Always use the proper vacuum tube for tests requiring a special anticoagulant (e.g.,EDTA,heparin,sodium citrate, etc)or preservative.
2.Tap the tube gently to release additive adhering to the tube or stopper diaphragm.
3.Permit the vacuum tube to fill completely.Failure to fill the tube will cause an improper blood-to anticoagulant ratio and yield questionable test results.
4.To avoid clotting,mix the blood with the anticoagulant or preservative immediately after drawing each sample.To ensure adequate mixing,slowly invert the tube five to six times using a gentle wrist rotation motion.
5.Immediately centrifuge the specimen for 5minutes.Do not remove the stopper.
6.Turn the centrifuge off and allow it to come to a complete stop.Do not stop it by hand or brake.Remove the tube carefully without disturbing the contents.
7.If you do not have a Light Green top tube(Plasma Separator tube),remove the stopper and carefully aspirate plasma,using a separate disposable Pasteur pipette for each tube.Place the tip of the pipette against the side of the tube,approximately 1/4 inch above the cell layer.Do not disturb the cell layer or carry any cells over into the pipette.Do not pour off;use transfer pipette.
8.Transfer the plasma from the pipette into the transfer tube.Be sure to provide the laboratory with the amount of plasma specified.
9.Label all tubes clearly and carefully with all pertinent information or bar code.All tubes should be labeled with the patient's full name or identification number as it appears on the test request form or affix bar code.Also,print on the label the type of plasma submitted(e.g., "Plasma, Sodium Citrate," "Plasma, EDTA," etc).
10.When frozen plasma is required,place plastic transfer tube(s)immediately in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator,and notify your professional service representative that you have a frozen specimen to be picked up.
