Specimen Requirements

Test must be performed within 4 hours of draw.

Heparinized patients contact Decatur Morgan Hospital-Parkway Campus Hematology Department at 256-973-6375 prior to draw for special instruction.

1. Draw blood in a blue-top (citrate) tube(s).
2. Spin down, remove plasma, spin plasma again, and place 0.5 mL of citrate platelet-poor plasma in plastic vial. (Glass vial is not acceptable.)

Note:  Double-centrifuged specimen is critical for accurate results as platelet contamination may cause spurious results.

3. Forward promptly.

Note:  Each coagulation assay requested should have its own vial.