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Clinical
Biochemistry Sample Requirements Blood
Samples
Most routine Clinical Biochemistry blood tests can be undertaken on 6 ml.
sample collected into a Vacutainer SST tube (yellow top). Some common
exceptions are:
N.B. Haemolysed
and lipaemic blood samples may interfere with analysis in a significant
and unpredictable manner requiring caution with interpretation of results.
Information
on the effects of haemolysis on routine Clinical
Biochemistry tests is available.
Glucose Samples
Glucose analysis may be undertaken on unpreserved
samples, but the result may be lowered if the sample is not analysed
within 4 hours, or if glucose is being metabolised rapidly (e.g. in septicaemia
or some forms of leukaemia). Under these circumstances, a 2ml samples in a
fluoride oxalate tube (grey top) is required
Alcohol Samples
Requests for alcohol are not routinely available without prior
discussion with the laboratory. A 2ml samples in a fluoride oxalate tube
(grey top) is required.
Paediatric Samples
Paediatric samples for most Clinical Biochemistry tests may be
collected into a 2 ml heparinised micro tube (orange cap) available from
Pathology: 2 ml fluoride oxalate micro tubes are also available for
glucose.
Blood Gases
All blood gas samples are analysed 'Point of Care' and require an
arterial sample taken into an heparinised syringe.
Urine Samples
Plain 25ml containers (white top) are available from supplies
distribution for random, MSU and
EMU samples. 24 hour urine containers with any necessary preservative, are
available from Pathology. Information
on urine collection and preservatives required is available.
Glycated Haemoglobin
(Hba1c)
Hba1c requests require a separate 2 ml blood sample taken into a
Vacutainer EDTA tube (purple top).
Faecal Samples
Plain 25ml faecal containers (blue top) are available
from supplies distribution.
Special
Collection Conditions Required
| Test Name |
Sample Type |
Container |
Comments |
|
Aldosterone |
Plasma |
Plastic
Heparin |
Contact
laboratory. Samples must be transported to lab. immediately. |
|
Ammonia |
Plasma |
Paediatric
Orange Top |
Contact
laboratory. Samples must be transported to lab. immediately.. |
|
Calcitonin |
Plasma |
Plastic
Heparin |
Contact
laboratory. Samples must be transported to lab. immediately. |
|
Gut
hormones |
Plasma |
Heparin with
Trasylol |
Contact
laboratory. Samples must be transported to lab. immediately. |
|
Homocysteine |
Plasma |
EDTA (Purple
Top) |
Samples must
be transported to lab. within 30 minutes. |
|
Porphyrins |
Urine
/ Plasma / Faeces |
Plain
(white top) universal
Purple
top (EDTA) tube
or (blue top) universal |
Keep
sample in dark until delivery to laboratory. |
|
Troponin
T |
Serum |
Yellow Top (SST).
Do not use heparin. |
Must be
taken at least 12 hours after event |
|
Xanthochromia |
CSF |
White
Capped Universal |
Must
be taken at least 12 hours after event. A
minimum of 1ml of CSF is required. |
Last
edited 07/08/08
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