Specimen Stability (for laboratory use only)
Collection Container
Light green top (lithium heparin, PST)
Collection Instructions:
For plateau level, collect blood specimen 48-72 hours after initiation of therapy.
1. Draw sufficient blood into light green top tube.
2. Gently invert the tube 8-10 times.
3. Send specimen to the laboratory immediately.
1. Draw sufficient blood into light green top tube.
2. Gently invert the tube 8-10 times.
3. Send specimen to the laboratory immediately.
Unacceptable Conditions:
Clotted
Grossly haemolysed
Grossly icteric
Grossly lipaemic
Grossly haemolysed
Grossly icteric
Grossly lipaemic
Specimen Stability:
Ambient
Not Centrifuged: 2 hours
Refrigerate
Frozen
Reflex Tests:
N.A.
Performance
Turn Around Time:
Stat: 2 hours. Routine: 4 hours
Days Test Performed:
Testing Laboratory:
Woodlands Hospital Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Biochemistry
Clinical & Interpretative
Description:
Methodology:
Enzymatic multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT)
Reference Interval:
Plateau: 20 – 25 mg/L (for continuous infusion)
Critical Values:
>30 mg/L
