Identification of specimens is critical if the right result on a given patient is to get back to the right clinician on a timely basis. This includes:

• Writing the animal/client name on each specimen container.
  
• Writing the animal and client name on the requisition form. The collection date is also helpful.
  
• Assuring that the originating clinic name and account number is clearly identified on the requisition form.
  
• Checking that the needed tests are marked or written on the form.
  
• Indicating the source, if other than a blood sample.
  
• Identifying the tissue or fluid source and clinic ID # with a lead or wax pencil on all slides submitted for cytology.

Fasting the animal for 8-12 hours is often helpful to reduce the likelihood of lipemia, as this may interfere with several tests by falsely increasing or decreasing the results. When applicable, comments about the presence and influence of lipemia appear on the laboratory reports.

• Stabilize serum from serum separator tubes (SST) by centrifuging the specimen before submission. If being mailed, it is preferable to transfer the separated serum to a plain red top tube (RTT).
  
• Blood samples in plain RTT should be centrifuged and the serum transferred to another RTT.
  
• Refrigerate and transport all blood specimens, cytology fluids, tissues, viral cultures, and urines for urinalysis (UA or culture) with ice packs. Leave all routine microbial cultures (except urine) and blood cultures at room temperature.
  
• For specimens that must remain frozen for transport, please obtain your own dry ice.