Blood must be centrifuged and plasma aliquotted into tube(s) within 4 hours of collection. Open and aliquot specimens in a biological safety cabinet (BSC).
Centrifuge specimens in a contained system @ 1500 rpm for 15 minutes.
Note: After centrifugation, plasma must be aliquotted into separate tubes if more than one tube is collected.
Ship specimens using Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) guidelines.
Send one (1) plasma tube to the DSC with a completed viral load requisition.
If only one tube is collected (i.e. pediatric collection), send plasma tube to DSC.
If an additional "other" EDTA tube is collected for HIV Resistance Testing, send plasma to the DSC with the photocopy of the Patient Informed Consent and HIV Resistant Testing Request form.
8th & 8th, ACH, PLC, RGH: Send any other specimens (plasma) collected i.e. Archive, Other
in a separate TDG container, along with a photocopy of the original Viral Load Requisition directly to:
HIV Laboratory
c/o Distribution Services
Room B808, Health Sciences Centre
University of Calgary
3330 Hospital Dr. NW
Calgary, AB T2N 4N1
FMC only: Phone the HIV Laboratory at 220-5199, and one of their staff will come to pick up the specimen.
Specimens from 8th & 8th PSC will be sent to the DSC on the following courier runs: 1100h, 1400h, 1635h and 1735h.
If unable to centrifuge specimen, ensure that unspun specimens arrive at the DSC within 4 hours of collection. |
