Complete Blood Count

1 x 4 mL lavender top EDTA tube 

Minimum Whole Blood Volumes for Micro-Collections using Microtainers

Whole blood

Mix well by inverting tube 8 to 10 times.

Collection can be combined in 1 x 4 mL tube with ESR (EDTA only) and/or Reticulocyte Count.

Specimen tube MUST be sufficiently filled to be satisfactory for testing. If necessary, contact site-specific Hematology department for requirements.


Platelet Clumpers:
If platelet clumping is suspected and the requisition indicates the following:

• "CLUMPCIT": collect a blue top sodium citrate tube along with the EDTA tube (data entry: use orderable CLUMPCIT)
• "CLUMPHEPCIT", collect a blue top sodium citrate tube and a green top sodium heparin tube along with the EDTA tube (data entry: use orderable CLUMPHEPCIT)
• if only "Platelet Clumper" or "Clumper" is on requisition, collect all three tubes (data entry: use orderable CLUMPHEPCIT).

Platelet clumper orderables must have the same priority as the CBC, e.g. ST, RT.

For inpatient collections, the Hematology department or the nursing unit may inform collection staff that extra tubes must be drawn due to platelet clumping.
When multiple tubes are drawn, keep all tubes together with an elastic band.


Extra-regional:
Provide a dried unstained blood smear.

Test includes: Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, WBC, Differential, RBC, MCV, MCHC, RDW, and Platelet count.

PSC:
Transport microtainer collections (07:00-17:00) by regular scheduled courier if within 2 hours of collection. If greater than 2 hours, call courier dispatcher to arrange for pick-up. After 17:00 or weekend, arrange for taxi pick-up. 

Click here for critical values.