Shipping Instructions

Specimens must arrive within 72 hours of collection.

Necessary Information

Include recent transfusion information and most recent complete blood cell count results.

Metabolic Hematology Patient Information (T810) is strongly recommended, but not required, to be filled out and sent with the specimen. This information aids in providing a more thorough interpretation of test results. Ordering providers are strongly encouraged to complete the form and send it with the specimen.

Specimen Required

Both patient and shipping control specimens are required.

For complete instructions, refer to Specimen Collection and Labeling Instructions for Osmotic Fragility Testing of Erythrocytes.

Shipping Control Specimen

Specimen Type: Whole blood (non-patient)

Container/Tube: Lavender top (EDTA)

Specimen Volume: 4 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Collect a shipping control specimen from a healthy person unrelated to the patient at the same time (or within 4 hours) as the patient specimen.

Note: The shipping control specimen can be collected from a phlebotomist, volunteer or another heathy patient.

2. Clearly handwrite "CONTROL" on the outermost label of the tube.

3. Refrigerate (or place on cold gel pack/small amount of wet ice) immediately after collection.

4. Send shipping control in the original tube. Do not aliquot.

5. Keep the shipping control and the patient specimens together, either rubber banded or in a bag.

Additional Information:

1. The shipping control and patient specimens must be handled identically from the time of collection through receipt in the testing laboratory.

2. If the shipping control is not sent with the patient specimen, test cancellation is likely.

3. The shipping control specimen evaluates whether the patient result has been compromised by handling conditions such as temperature, motion, or other transportation interferences, as temperature and handling extremes can adversely impact the integrity of the specimen.

Patient Specimen

Specimen Type: Whole blood

Container/Tube: Lavender top (EDTA)

Specimen Volume: 4 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Collect and label patient specimen.

2. Refrigerate (or place on cold gel pack/small amount of wet ice) specimen immediately after collection.

3. Send whole blood specimen in the original tube. Do not aliquot.

4. Keep the shipping control and the patient specimens together, either rubber banded or in a bag.

Additional Information: The shipping control and patient specimens must be handled identically from the time of collection through receipt in the testing laboratory.

Patient Specimen

Specimen Type: Slides

Container/Tube: Blood smears

Specimen Volume: 2 Well-made peripheral blood smears

Collection Instructions:

1. Prepare 2 peripheral blood smears from the EDTA tube collected from the patient.

2. Either stain the smear with Wright stain or fix the smear with absolute methanol prior to shipping.