Tests Catalogs

One 6.0 mL pink top(EDTA plasma) filled to at least 80% capacity.

Specimen source must be identified on order or requisition.

At least 0.5 mL of whole blood collected in a 1.0 mL pink top microtainer (EDTA) or other blood tube with EDTA anticoagulant.

Contaminated specimen; clotted sample; tubes not filled to 80-100% capacity; improper storage conditions; gross hemolysis; samples stored in fixatives; sample not properly identified; insufficient sample volume; specimens other than whole blood (EDTA).

Internal: Deliver to lab immediately at ambient temperature.

Offsite: Send at 2-8 degrees C if tested within 72 hours. If delivery is not expected within 72 hours, freeze at -70 degrees C and ship on dry ice.

Do not centrifuge.

Ambient, 12 hours; Refrigerated, 72 hours, Frozen (-70 degrees C), 6 months.

PCL Clinical Laboratory - Molecular Diagnostics

All sample types submitted in a sterile container, including serum from red top tube. 
Specimen source must be identified on order or requisition.
If submitting a Pink Top tube (EDTA) whole blood, refer to test code LAB3233 HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS PCR BLOOD.

At least 0.5 mL of sample in a sterile container.

Whole blood samples; non sterile or leaking containers; sample not properly identified; insufficient sample volume; contaminated specimen; clotted sample; samples containing fixatives; samples collected on wooden-shafted swabs.

Internal: Deliver to lab immediately at ambient temperature.
Offsite: Send at 2-8 degrees C if delivered within 72 hours. If delivery is not expected within 72 hours, freeze at -70 degrees C and ship on dry ice.

Do not centrifuge.

Ambient, 12 hours; Refrigerated, 72 hours; Frozen (-70 degrees C), 6 months.

PCL Clinical Laboratory - Molecular Diagnostics

One 6.0 mL red top no gel, serum (clot activator), or

One 4.0 mL purple top, EDTA whole blood or plasma.

Minimum volume 1 mL whole blood, serum, or EDTA plasma.

Excessive hemolysis; gross turbidity; specimen not properly identified; insufficient sample volume; incorrect container.

Internal: Deliver to lab immediately.
Offsite: For EDTA whole blood, if same day of collection, send at ambient or refrigerated temperature. If sample cannot be transported the same day, centrifuge and separate plasma from red cells and send refrigerated.

For plasma/serum, send refrigerated. If delivery time will exceed 24 hours, transport frozen.

Whole blood: Ambient, 24 hours; Refrigerated, 24 hours; Frozen, unacceptable.

Serum/EDTA plasma: Refrigerated, 48 hours; Frozen (-20 degrees C), 3 months.

Limitations:  Correlation with clinical findings is imperative since false positive and negative results have been reported. About 10% of the adult population with infectious mononucleosis will not develop heterophile antibodies. Failure to develop heterophile antibodies occurs even more frequently in children. In these instances the presence of Epstein-Barr virus antibodies may occur. Less than 2% false-positives have been reported with Hodgkin's disease, lymphoma, acute lymphocytic leukemia, infectious hepatitis, pancreatic carcinoma, CMV, Burkitt's lymphoma, rheumatoid arthritis, malaria, and rubella. Rare unexplained positive horse cell screening tests have been reported with negative differential absorptions. The infectious mononucleosis heterophile antibody appears in the serum of patients by the sixth to tenth day of illness. Highest titers are usually found in the second to third week. Anitbody levels may remain detectable for as little as 1 week or persist up to a year; usual persistence is 4-8 weeks. The level of antibody activity is not correlated with the severity of disease or the degree of lymphocytosis. A positive screening or differential test in the appropriate clinical and hematologic setting is sufficient to make the diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis. If there is clinically a mononucleosis syndrome, but the screening test is negative, consider tests for EBV specific antibodies, CMV, and toxoplasmosis antibodies.

PCL Clinical Laboratory - Virology

One 2.7 mL blue top (3.2% citrate plasma). 

All blue tops collected for coagulation assays which do not have a blood culture collected first must have a discard tube collected prior to filling.Discard tube should be another blue top in which greater than 1 mL of blood is collected.

Minimum volume: 0.4 mL platelet poor plasma.

Clotted sample; hemolyzed sample; tube fill volume less than 90% or greater than 110%; more than 4 hours since collection; serum sample; sample diluted with IV fluid; sample not properly identified; incorrect container; insufficient sample volume.

Internal: Deliver to lab immediately at ambient temperature.
Offsite: Centrifuge immediately, place at least 0.4 mL platelet poor plasma in a plastic aliquot container, and transport to lab frozen.

Whole blood: Ambient, 4 hours.

Platelet-poor plasma aliquot: Refrigerated, 4 hours; Frozen (-20 degrees C), 2 weeks; Frozen (-70 degrees C), 6 months.

PCL Clinical Laboratory - Specials (Coagulation)

All sample types, except blood, in a sterile container.

Specimen source is required.

If submitting a Pink top tube, refer to test code HHV6PCRPLS.

Minimum volume: 0.5 mL

Sample not properly identified; insufficient sample volume; contaminated specimen; clotted sample; gross hemolysis; non-sterile or leaking containers; and samples containing fixatives.

For plasma, refer to test code HHV6PCRPLS.

Internal: Deliver to lab immediately.
Offsite: Send at 2-8 degrees C if delivery is less than 72 hours. If delivery is not expected within 72 hours, freeze at -70 degrees C and ship on dry ice.

Ambient:12 hours; Refrigerated: 72 hours; Frozen (-70 degrees C): 6 months.

Quantitative results will be given for all urine samples. Qualitative results will be given for tissues, stools, swabs, or diluted samples.

PCL Clinical Laboratory - Molecular Diagnostics

One 6.0 mL pink top, plasma (EDTA).  Tubes must be filled to at least 80% capacity.

Specimen source is required to be included on requisition.

At least 0.5 mL of whole blood collected in a 1.0 mL pink top microtainer (EDTA) or other blood tube with EDTA anticoagulant.

Sample not properly identified; insufficient sample volume; contaminated specimen; clotted sample; tubes not filled to 80-100% capacity; improper storage conditions; gross hemolysis; samples stored in fixatives.

Internal:Deliver to lab immediately.
Offsite: Send at 2-8 degrees C if tested within 72 hours. If delivery is not expected within 72 hours, centrifuge, transfer supernatant to an aliquot tube, and freeze at -70 degrees C. Ship on dry ice.

Ambient: 12 hours; Refrigerated: 3 days; Frozen (-70 degrees C): 6 months.

Quantitative results will be reported.

PCL Clinical Laboratory - Molecular Diagnostics

One 6.0 mL pink top, plasma (EDTA).  Tubes must be filled to at least 80% capacity.

Specimen source must be identified on order or requisition.

At least 0.5 mL of whole blood collected in a 1.0 mL pink top microtainer (EDTA) or other blood tube with EDTA anticoagulant.

Sample not properly identified; insufficient sample volume; contaminated specimen; clotted sample; tubes not filled to 80-100% capacity; improper storage conditions; gross hemolysis; samples stored in fixatives.

Internal: Deliver to lab immediately.

Offsite: Send at 2-8 degrees C if tested within 72 hours. If delivery is not expected within 72 hours, centrifuge, transfer supernatant to an aliquot tube, and freeze at -70 degrees C. Ship on dry ice.

Ambient: 12 hours; Refrigerated: 3 days; Frozen (-70 degrees C): 6 months.

Qualitative results will be reported.

PCL Clinical Laboratory - Molecular Diagnostics

All sample types, except blood. Submit in a sterile container.

Specimen source must be identified on order or requisition.

If submitting a Pink top tube (EDTA), refer to test code LAB3250 HHV-8 PCR Plasma.

0.5 mL

Sample not properly identified; insufficient sample volume; contaminated specimen; clotted sample; gross hemolysis; non sterile or leaking containers; and samples containing fixatives.

For plasma, refer to test code LAB3250 HHV-8 PCR Plasma.

Internal: Deliver to lab immediately.
Offsite: Send at 2-8 degrees C if delivery is less than 72 hours. If delivery is not expected within 72 hours, freeze at -70 degrees C and ship on dry ice.

Ambient: 12 hours; Refrigerated: 72 hours; Frozen (-70 degrees C): 6 months

PCL Clinical Laboratory - Molecular Diagnostics

One4.5 mL green top with gel (PST), (lithium heparin plasma).

At least 0.5 mL whole blood in green top microtainer with gel, (lithium heparin plasma) or other heparin tube.

Citrate or oxalate anticoagulants; sample not properly identified; insufficient sample volume.

Internal: Deliver to lab immediately at ambient temperature.
Offsite: Centrifuge within 30 minutes of collection, then transport to lab at 2-8 degrees C.

Before centrifugation: 1 hour.

After centrifugation: Ambient, 3 hours; Refrigerated, 1 week.

Plasma aliquot: Ambient, 3 hours; Refrigerated, 1 week; Frozen (-20 degrees C), 1 month.

Patient should fast for at least 9-12 hours prior to blood collection if the HDL is part of a lipid panel.

PCL Clinical Laboratory- Core