© Boule Medical AB, March 2018. Article no. 1504496 Page 33
4. Sample Collection
Venous Blood Sample Collection
SECTION 4. SAMPLE COLLECTION
Venous Blood Sample Collection
Venous blood samples should be collected in a K2EDTA or K3EDTA tubes in sucient
quantity and be gently mixed after sampling in order to obtain accurate results. Please follow
the recommendation of the EDTA tube supplier. Recommended by ICSH and NCCLS.
Obtain the sample by means of a clean venipuncture to minimize platelet aggregation.
If collecting blood for hematology and chemistry, ll the EDTA tube rst and any other tubes
next.
Avoid use of needles smaller than 22 gauge. If a smaller needle is used, the blood should be
transferred to the EDTA tube with no tube top and needle removed.
Avoid transfer of blood to the tubes by turbulent force. The vacuum should be allowed to ll
the tubes.
Limitations
Samples drawn in an open tube or vacuum tube should be analyzed between 15 minutes and
6 hours for most accurate results.
The sample should be kept at room temperature. Excessive cold or heat could cause erroneous
results.
Handling of venous blood samples
It is recommended that the sample should be allowed to equilibrate to the EDTA for 10–15
minutes after collection.
The sample should be thoroughly and gently mixed before analysis.
A sample not correctly handled may give erroneous results.
Handling of capillary blood samples
The sample in the EDTA micropipette can be analyzed directly after collection and for optimal
results not longer than 10 minutes from collection.
For capillary samples collected in EDTA micro tubes follow the “Handling of venous blood
samples” section above.
Wash hands, put on gloves, and any other safety equipment as specied by established local
laboratory protocol, for coming in contact with potentially biohazardous materials.
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