Grand Junction, Colorado 81501

Specimen Procurement

Standardized Mnemonics and Specimen Requirements Dictionary

PURPOSE STATEMENT

The purpose of this procedure is to standardize the mnemonics used in Specimen Procurement.

SCOPE

This procedure applies to Laboratory Associates.

DEFINITIONS/KEYWORDS

NA

PROCEDURE

Mnemonic Description Common Tests Picture Specimen Requirements

ACD ACD Bone Marrow:Send out testing;HLA type

Room temperature (RT)

PDAM Amber Neonatal Bilirubin, CMP, BMP, etc.

Clot 30 minutes prior to centrifugation

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BL Blue top All coagulation testing;Protime, PTT, Unfractionated Heparin, Fibrinogen, D Dimer

Must be completely filled;TEG– do NOT spin the WTEG blue top and route immediately

PFA- must be hand delivered, do not place in PEVCO, avoid using tourniquet to collect(See procedure for additional collection and handling collection)

ABG Syringe Blood Gases Process as stats, regardless of priority requested

CSF CSF – Documentation of number of vial.

CSF Cell Count, Protein, Glucose, CSF Culture, Multiple Sclerosis PanelCytology

Note: Process under a hood;

Process all CSF as stats, regardless of priority requested.

If not processed immediately refrigerate ( CYTO)

FFN Collection kit

FFN Process as stat, regardless of priority requested.

AMSURB Collection kit

Amnisure Process as stat, regardless of priority requested.

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GD Gold Top Serum Pregnancy,Cortisol,Testosterone,Progesterone,PTH, HIV’ Lithium;ANA; Mono screen

Must clot for 30 minutes prior to centrifugation

ANA freeze in a labeled aliquot tube and place in freezer.

GRY Gray Top Lactic Acid Collect and deliver on ice to the laboratory

GRLI Lithium Heparin

All in-house chemistries, with the exception of common tests listed with the Gold Top tubes.

VBGWhole blood chemistries;Ammonia

VBG and whole blood chemistries – do NOT spin, route immediately to ChemistryAmmonia: deliver on ice

SGR Sodium Heparin

Cytogenetics;Flow cytometry;Other reference lab testing

Keep at RT;Flow and Cytogenetics testing- deliver to Histology;Other reference labs consult send outs or ARUP dictionary

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PDGR Pediatric Green

All in-house chemistries, with the exception of common tests listed with the Gold Top tubes.

VBGWhole blood chemistries;Ammonia

Delivered with Labeled aliquot tube

9ML LAV Purple/Lavender Top

Pre-Surgical Type and Screen, Prenatal Type and Screen, HIV by PCR, HCV Quant

Blood Bank will reject specimens if applicable

9ML LAV Banded tube

Type and Screen

Blood Bank will reject specimens if applicable

9ML LAV Banded tube

Type and Screen

Exception to rule.Used for Downtime and Bring-ins

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LAV Purple/Lavender Top

Complete Blood Count, ESR, Platelet Count, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, White Blood Cell Count,Cyclosporine,Tacrolimus,HGB A1c,Intraoperative PTH

Cyclosporine,Tacrolimus,HGB A1c, Are batched tested and added to the refrigerator* Intraoperative PTH - deliver to Chemistry immediately. DO NOT receive Specimen in SUNQUEST

PDLAV Pediatric Lavender

Complete Blood Count, Hemogram, Platelet Count,Hemoglobin, Hematocrit

Cyclosporine,Tacrolimus,HGB A1c, Are batched tested and added to the refrigerator* Intraoperative PTH - deliver to Chemistry immediately. DO NOT receive Specimen in SUNQUEST

NAV Dark Blue – no additive

Cobalt, Chromium

Usually processed as serum and left at room temperature

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NE Dark Blue- EDTA additive

Lead Usually left as whole blood and room temperature

PDR Pediatric Red Top

CMP, BMP Clot 30 minutes prior to centrifugation

RD Red Top(Not preferred tube type)

CMP, BMP, Heparin Associated Antibody, Quad Screen;

Clot 30 minutes prior to centrifugation

PTHRP PTHRP tube:Protease Inhibitor Tube

PTH Related Peptide, Glucagon

Special tube required, located in send-out refirgerator, consult ARUP dictionary

Send Outs-See codes

Send outs- see ARUP dictionary

Send outs Various containers and tube types

Follow requiremenents in ARUP dictionary

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QFKIT Quantiferon Kit

Quantiferon

Incubated immediately after collection for 16 – 24 hours prior to centrifuging

PA Pyruvic Acid Container

Pyruvic Acid Send outs – special requirements

LB 1000 ml Evacuated Container

Body Fluid Culture, Cytology, Body fluid Cell Count, Fluid LDH

Note: Process under a hood;

Refrigerated within 1 hour;Deliver to CYTO immediately or refrigerate after hours

BC Blood Culture – Blue bottle (Aerobic). Purple bottle (Anaerobic). If only able to collect one,

Blood Cultures Should be processedImmediately – and placed on the Blood culture analyzer.

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collect Blue top (aerobic).

PDBC Blood Culture – Pink top pediatric blood culture.

Pediatric Blood Culture

Should be processedImmediately – and placed on the Blood culture analyzer.

AFBAFB – Be sure to screw the blue cap from the side of the collection container on the top of the inner tube.

AFB Culture and Smear

Note: Process under a hood and refrigerate immediately

MBC Fungal/AFB Blood Bottle

Should be processedImmediately – and placed on the Blood culture analyzer.

Plates Plates Should be processed immediately and taken to the microbiology dept.

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PROBE PROBE – GC and/or Chlamydia

Chlamydia and Gonorrhea

Vaginal self collect swab, or endocervical swab. Kept at room temperature.

UR Urine Chlamydia and Gonorrhea

Dirty Catch, prefer first morning. RT urine up to 24 hours before being put in preservative. Once in preservative keep at RT.

STLPI Formalin Giardia, Ova and Parasites (must be submitted with PVA container)

Must be placed in vials within 30 minutes

UR Urine Urinalysis, Urine Pregnancy test, Urine Drugs of Abuse Screen, Urine Culture;Urine Chemistry;Post vasectomy

Clean Catch; refrigerate within 30 minutes

Fertility Glass container Process immediately

9

FOBI Fecal Occult Immunoassay

Fecal Occult blood

Store at RT after inoculated with stool.

Stool Studies

Cdiff Toxin, Fecal Leukocytes,Fecal Occult,

Refrigerate immediately.

Respiratory Studies(1ml)

VRPMABordetella

RSVInfluenza(Rapid or PCR)

Preferred swab. Refrigerate immediately,

UP Urine Urine Culture and Sensitivity

Clean Catch,Placed in tube within 30 minutes, after placed in tube can be kept at RT

M4SWAB Viral Swab (3ml)

HSVCan perform:VRPMABordetella

RSVInfluenza(Rapid or PCR)

Refrigerate immediately

10

Swab Swab – White top for wounds. Documentation of source.

Wound Culture Processed within 30 minutes

NP Swab Blue Top Nasopharyngeal Swab

VRPMABordetella

RSVInfluenza(Rapid or PCR)

Viral swab perferred. Refrigerate immediately

STLOR Carey-Blair EPMA Stool must be placed in the perservative within 30 minutes;Then Refrigerate immediately.

STLBL Total-Fix Ova and Parasites

Stool must be placed in the perservative within 30 minutes;Then leave at RT or refrigerate

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STLGR PVA Ova and Parasites (must be submitted with pink formalin container)

Stool must be placed in the perservative within 30 minutes;Then leave at RT or refrigerate

PINW Pinworm Paddle

Pinworm Process as stats, regardless of priority requested;Leave in MICRO at RT

PATH Various containers and specimens.

Specimens may or may not be on formalin. Specimens may be Fresh, Frozen, or Permanent.

Note: the above photo is only a few examples of containers for Pathology specimens. There are other various containers for Path specimens that may or may not be on a preservative.

Immediately deliver to Histology and hand to staff duirng business hours.After business hours consult with Charge Tech or Pathologist

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PAP PAP container for PAP smears

PAP smears Sure Prep Pap

Thin Prep Pap

Deliver to Cyto Counter by 0600 following receipt

Deliver to Cyto Counter by 0600 following receipt

RPMI Orange cap tube

Chromosome analysis for tissue only

Deliver to Histology at RT;Special tube required located in Histology refrigerator

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CRDSTMECST

Orange Top orBlue Top Urine Cups

Cord Drug ScreenMeconium Drug Screens

Special requirements…. Evidence tape with date and initials and charge tech locks up… if there is paperwork it needs to be given to the Send outs bench.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Document/Form Title Document IdentificationOutpatient Phlebotomy Training Guide 36200.830

REFERENCES

Document/Form TitleCollege of American Pathologists (CAP) Laboratory Standards (current edition)

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