BACKGROUND Anecdotal observations by pharmacists monitoring anticoagulated patients indicate that blood samples collected in 2.7-mL (pediatric) evacuated tubes frequently produced falsely elevated international normalized ratio (INR) results. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of various preanalytical variables (fill volume, sample mixing, and elapsed time between sample collection and mixing) ...

Under proper conditions, whole blood can be stored at room temperature for as long as 21 days before measurement of glycosylated hemoglobin by affinity chromatography. Whole blood (anticoagulated with EDTA or heparin) was placed in capillary tubes, which were then sealed at both ends and stored at room temperature. Just before assay, whole blood was rinsed from the tubes and diluted 10-fold wit...

BACKGROUND The ability to measure 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels from blood spot cards can simplify sample collection versus samples obtained by venipuncture, particularly in populations in whom it is difficult to draw blood. We sought to validate the use of blood spot samples for the measurement of 25OHD compared to serum or whole blood samples and correlate the measured levels with intake...

The rejected specimens from the Emergency Department of Center Clinical Laboratory January 1, 2022 to 2023 were analyzed reduce specimen rejection rates and improve quality inspection. results showed that there 1488 samples non-conforming rate was 0.58%. departments involved mainly Department, Hematology Cardiology Intensive Care Brain Surgery Department. Among reasons for rejection, blood hemo...

BACKGROUND Pharmacogenetic testing may change clinical medicine by allowing clinicians to tailor medications based on a patient's genetic makeup, however, these tests must first be validated in large, real-life populations of subjects that include children. A dearth of knowledge exists for whether pediatric populations are as willing as adult populations to provide samples for such studies. O...

  Antibody detection is the most versatile and commonly used method for measles diagnosis. Detection of specific IgM antibodies in a single serum specimen collected within the appropriate time after rash onset can provide a good presumptive diagnosis of current or recent measles infection and is the test of choice for rapid diagnosis of measles cases. So, optimal timing for collection of a sing...

OBJECTIVE To provide updated management guidelines according to cervical cytology specimen adequacy and techniques to optimize adequacy based on literature review and expert opinion. MATERIALS AND METHODS Selected members of the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology committee and invited experts conducted a literature review and discussed appropriate management and areas for ...

In 2000, Staten Island, New York, reported 10 human West Nile virus cases and high densities of dead crows. Surrounding counties with <2 human cases had moderate dead crow densities, and upstate counties with no human cases had low dead crow densities. Monitoring such densities may be helpful because this factor may be determined without the delays associated with specimen collection and testing.