General Information   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 hundreds of samples each day with no test marked.) Indicating the source, if other than a bloodsample, 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.       Please send comments to the webmaster. ©1997-2008 Antech Diagnostics, Inc. Site design and maintenance by amesDesign.