Abstract
Clot activator serum tubes have significantly improved turnaround times for result reporting compared to plain tubes. With increasing workload and service performance expectations confronting clinical laboratories with high-volume testing and with particular emphasis on critical analytes, attention has focussed on preanalytical variables that can be improved. We carried out a field study on the test performance of BD vacutainer rapid serum tubes (RSTs) compared to current institutional issued BD vacutainer serum separator tubes (SSTs) in its test result comparability, clotting time, and stability on serum storage. Data from the study population (n = 160) of patients attending outpatient clinics and healthy subjects showed that results for renal, liver, lipids, cardiac, thyroid, and prostate biochemical markers were comparable between RSTs and SSTs. Clotting times of the RSTs were verified to be quick with a median time of 2.05 min. Analyte stability on serum storage at 4°C showed no statistically significant deterioration except for bicarbonate, electrolytes, and albumin over a period of 4 days. In conclusion, RSTs offered savings in the time required for the clotting process of serum specimens. This should translate to further trimming of the whole process from blood collection to result reporting without too much sacrifice on test accuracy and performance compared to the current widely used SSTs in most clinical laboratories.
Highlights
The performance of laboratory services is often expected to demonstrate delivery of accurate test results in the shortest possible time
All study analytes from the healthy subjects were readily tested; not all of these analytes were requested for the outpatients, the unequal number of tests for each analyte (85–129 results)
Visual review of the clotting process clearly verified a much shorter clot formation in the rapid serum tubes (RSTs) at less than 5 min compared to serum separator tubes (SSTs)
Summary
The performance of laboratory services is often expected to demonstrate delivery of accurate test results in the shortest possible time. What is perhaps less understood are the various influences that determine the prompt delivery of results from the journey of the blood specimen which begins at the blood collection point and continues to testing and result reporting. Studies have indicated that much of the delay is due to factors at the preanalytical phase including specimen delivery efficiencies [1, 2]. A key factor is the clotting time of blood collected for serum testing, and current blood collection tubes (with clot activator and gel separation) require a recommended 30min standing time for clotting. At times, specimens reaching the laboratory through a fast delivery service (example, for STAT specimens) may not have clotted completely to allow immediate testing
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
