Tests Catalogs

One 4.5 mL gold or red top with gel (SST), clot activator serum.

Also acceptable: One 6.0 mL red top no gel, serum (clot activator).

At least 1.0 mL blood collected in a 4.5 mL gold or red top with gel (SST), clot activator serum, or other serum tube.

Plasma samples; grossly contaminated, hemolyzed, lipemic or icteric samples; sample not properly identified; insufficient sample volume.

Internal: Allow to clot for 30 minutes, then deliver to lab at ambient temperature.
Offsite: Allow to clot for 30 minutes, immediately centrifuge, place at least 2 mL of serum in an aliquot container. If tested within 7 days of collection, transport at 2-8 degrees C. If tested more than 7 days after collection, transport frozen.

Before centrifugation: 1 hour

After centrifugation: Ambient, 1 hour; Refrigerated, 1 hour

Serum aliquot: Ambient, 1 hour; Refrigerated, 7 days; Frozen (-20 deg C), 1 month

Stat priority is available for some high-risk obstetric patients. Call the laboratory to arrange.

PCL Clinical Laboratory - Special Chemistry

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

Specimen source must be identified on order or requisition.

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

Sample not properly identified; incorrect container; insufficient sample volume; contaminated specimen; clotted sample; tubes not filled to 80-100% capacity; improper storage conditions; no fixatives allowed; specimens other than whole blood EDTA.

Internal: Deliver to lab immediately.
Offsite: Do not centrifuge.  If delivered within 72 hours, send at 2-8 degrees C.  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 deg C): 6 months

Qualitative results will be given.

PCL Clinical Laboratory - Molecular Diagnosis

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 LAB3235 VARICELLA-ZOSTER VIRUS PCR BLOOD.

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 whole blood, refer to test code LAB3235 VARICELLA-ZOSTER VIRUS PCR BLOOD.

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:  1 hour;  Refrigerated: 72 hours;  Frozen (-70 degrees C): 6 months

PCL Clinical Laboratory - Molecular Diagnostics

Requires Special Handling: Special collection kit must be obtained from PCL Clinical Lab. Call 720-848-4401 to obtain kit.

PCL Clinical Laboratory

At least 1.0 venous whole blood collected in a plastic blood gas syringe with dry balanced heparin anticoagulant.

0.3 mL venous whole blood in tuberculin blood gas syringe with balanced heparin.

Sample submitted with needle attached (remove immediately post collection); uncapped sample syringe; air bubbles in sample; clotted sample; EDTA or citrate anticoagulant; sample not properly identified; insufficient sample volume.

Internal:Deliver to the laboratory immediately. Maintain sample at ambient temperature. Deliver to the laboratory within 30 minutes of collection. If sample cannot be submitted to the laboratory within 30 minutes, transport on cold pack.

Offsite: Utilize emergency courier to provide for transport criteria listed above.

Ambient: 30 minutes;On Ice: 1 hour.

Use of dry, balanced heparin improves electrolyte and pH accuracy. Immediately remove any air bubbles from collected sample prior to transport.

PCL Clinical Laboratory - Core

Plastic Arterial blood gas syringe with dry balanced heparin anticoagulant. or plastic arterial blood gas syringe coated with alternate heparin source.

1.0 mL in standard blood gas syringe, or 0.3 mL in tuberculin blood gas syringe

Samples not properly identified, incorrect container; insufficient sample volume. Sample submitted with needle attached (remove immediately post collection); Air bubbles in sample, clotted sample.

Internal:Transport at ambient temperature If sample cannot be submitted to the laboratory within 30 minutes, transport on ICE.

Offsite: If sample cannot be submitted to the laboratory within 30 minutes, transport on ICE via emergency courier.

Ambient: 30 minutes;On Ice: 1 hour.

Samples not properly identified, incorrect container; insufficient sample volume; sample submitted with needle attached (remove immediately post collection); Uncapped sample syringe, air bubbles in sample; clotted sample. Samples containing EDTA or Citrate.

PCL Clinical Laboratory - Core

Two 2.0 mL blue top Greiner High Altitude BioOne Vacuette blood collection tubes using a 21 gauge needle or larger.  Fill tubes only to fill line on the label. These tubes are specially designed for this test and cannot be substituted. Order tubes in Lawson, #191357.  Lab has limited supplies and may be able to provide in an emergency.

DO NOT CENTRIFUGE. DO NOT SEND IN THE PNEUMATIC TUBE SYSTEM.

Store at room temperature. Do not agitate samples.

Sample not properly identified; incorrect containers; insufficient sample volume; tube over- or under-filled; more than 4 hours since collection; agitated sample; refrigerated or frozen samples.

Internal: Deliver to lab immediately at room temperature. Do not use pneumatic tube system or agitate tubes during delivery.

Offsite: Submission of samples from outside facilities is strongly discouraged due to high risk of sample agitation and platelet activation. See Remarks.

Ambient temperature:  3 hours*

*Deliver to lab as soon as possible after sample collection.  Although samples are stable for 4 hours at room temperature, allow 1 hour for lab processing and testing by sending samples to the lab no later than 3 hours after sample collection.

PCL Clinical Laboratory - Specials (Coagulation)