Proper Specimen Identification
Identification of specimens is critical if the right result on a given patient is to get
back to the right clinician in a timely manner. This includes:
- Writing the animal/client name on EACH specimen container.
- Writing the animal and client name, species, breed, gender and date on the test request
form.
- 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. [We receive 100s each day with
no test marked!]
- Indicating the source, if other than a bloodsample, and writing it on the form.
- Identifying the tissue or fluid source and clinic ID # with a lead pencil on the frosted end of
all slides submitted for cytology.
Fasting Sample
Fasting the animal for 8–12 hours is often helpful to reduce the likelihood of lipemia, which
may interfere with several tests by falsely increasing or decreasing the results. When applicable,
comments about the presence and influence of lipemia and/or hemolysis appear on the laboratory reports.
General Rules for Specimen Storage and Transport
- 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 labeled 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.
- If a specimen must remain frozen for transport, please obtain your own dry ice.
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