Table 4 Summary of key pre-analytical recommendations about specimen rejection
From: Pre-analytical issues in the haemostasis laboratory: guidance for the clinical laboratories
Specimen rejection | All samples deemed unacceptable due to pre-analytic handling and unfulfilled transport requirements should be rejected. |
Inappropriate collection tubes and additives. | |
Outdated tubes. | |
Error in patient identification or lack of identification. | |
Insufficient volume (depending on the assay). An alternative may be to adapt the result depending on the additional dilutional (e.g. for factor assays, fibrinogen). | |
Haemolysed specimens (depending on the assay). | |
Identification of a clot. |