Grand Junction, Colorado 81501

Specimen Procurement

Standardized Mnemonics and Specimen Requirements Dictionary

PURPOSE STATEMENT

The purpose of this procedure is to standardize the mnemonics used in Specimen Procurement.

SCOPE

This procedure applies to Laboratory Associates.

DEFINITIONS/KEYWORDS

NA

PROCEDURE

Mnemonic / Description / Common Tests / Picture / Specimen Requirements
ACD / ACD / Bone Marrow:
Send out testing;
HLA type / / Room temperature (RT)
PDAM / Amber / Neonatal Bilirubin, CMP, BMP, etc. / / Clot 30 minutes prior to centrifugation
BL / Blue top / All coagulation testing;
Protime, PTT, Unfractionated Heparin, Fibrinogen, D Dimer / / Must be completely filled;
TEG– do NOT spin the WTEG blue top and route immediately
PFA- must be hand delivered, do not place in PEVCO, avoid using tourniquet to collect
(See procedure for additional collection and handling collection)
ABG / Syringe / Blood Gases / / Process as stats, regardless of priority requested
CSF / CSF – Documentation of number of vial. / CSF Cell Count, Protein, Glucose, CSF Culture, Multiple Sclerosis Panel
Cytology / / Note: Process under a hood;
Process all CSF as stats, regardless of priority requested.
If not processed immediately refrigerate ( CYTO)
FFN / Collection kit / FFN / / Process as stat, regardless of priority requested.
AMSURB / Collection kit / Amnisure / / Process as stat, regardless of priority requested.
GD / Gold Top / Serum Pregnancy,
Cortisol,
Testosterone,
Progesterone,
PTH, HIV’ Lithium;
ANA; Mono screen / / Must clot for 30 minutes prior to centrifugation
ANA freeze in a labeled aliquot tube and place in freezer.
GRY / Gray Top / Lactic Acid / / Collect and deliver on ice to the laboratory
GRLI / Lithium Heparin / All in-house chemistries, with the exception of common tests listed with the Gold Top tubes.
VBG
Whole blood chemistries;
Ammonia / / VBG and whole blood chemistries – do NOT spin, route immediately to Chemistry
Ammonia: deliver on ice
SGR / Sodium Heparin / Cytogenetics;
Flow cytometry;
Other reference lab testing / / Keep at RT;
Flow and Cytogenetics testing- deliver to Histology;
Other reference labs consult send outs or ARUP dictionary
PDGR / Pediatric Green / All in-house chemistries, with the exception of common tests listed with the Gold Top tubes.
VBG
Whole blood chemistries;
Ammonia / / Delivered with Labeled aliquot tube
9ML LAV / Purple/Lavender Top / Pre-Surgical Type and Screen, Prenatal Type and Screen, HIV by PCR, HCV Quant / / Blood Bank will reject specimens if applicable
9ML LAV / Banded tube / Type and Screen / / Blood Bank will reject specimens if applicable
9ML LAV / Banded tube / Type and Screen / / Exception to rule.
Used for Downtime and Bring-ins
LAV / Purple/Lavender Top / Complete Blood Count, ESR, Platelet Count, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, White Blood Cell Count,
Cyclosporine,
Tacrolimus,
HGB A1c,
Intraoperative PTH / / Cyclosporine,
Tacrolimus,
HGB A1c,
Are batched tested and added to the refrigerator
* Intraoperative PTH - deliver to Chemistry immediately. DO NOT receive Specimen in SUNQUEST
PDLAV / Pediatric Lavender / Complete Blood Count, Hemogram, Platelet Count,
Hemoglobin, Hematocrit / / Cyclosporine,
Tacrolimus,
HGB A1c,
Are batched tested and added to the refrigerator
* Intraoperative PTH - deliver to Chemistry immediately. DO NOT receive Specimen in SUNQUEST
NAV / Dark Blue – no additive / Cobalt, Chromium / / Usually processed as serum and left at room temperature
NE / Dark Blue- EDTA additive / Lead / / Usually left as whole blood and room temperature
PDR / Pediatric Red Top / CMP, BMP / / Clot 30 minutes prior to centrifugation
RD / Red Top
(Not preferred tube type) / CMP, BMP, Heparin Associated Antibody, Quad Screen; / / Clot 30 minutes prior to centrifugation
PTHRP / PTHRP tube:
Protease Inhibitor Tube / PTH Related Peptide, Glucagon / / Special tube required, located in send-out refirgerator, consult ARUP dictionary
Send Outs-
See codes / Send outs- see ARUP dictionary / Send outs / Various containers and tube types / Follow requiremenents inARUP dictionary
QFKIT / Quantiferon Kit / Quantiferon / / Incubated immediately after collection for 16 – 24 hours prior to centrifuging
PA / Pyruvic Acid Container / Pyruvic Acid / / Send outs – special requirements
LB / 1000 ml Evacuated Container / Body Fluid Culture, Cytology, Body fluid Cell Count, Fluid LDH / / Note: Process under a hood;
Refrigerated within 1 hour;
Deliver to CYTO immediately or refrigerate after hours
BC / Blood Culture – Blue bottle (Aerobic). Purple bottle (Anaerobic). If only able to collect one, collect Blue top (aerobic). / Blood Cultures / / Should be processed
Immediately – and placed on the Blood culture analyzer.
PDBC / Blood Culture – Pink top pediatric blood culture. / Pediatric Blood Culture / / Should be processed
Immediately – and placed on the Blood culture analyzer.
AFB / AFB – Be sure to screw the blue cap from the side of the collection container on the top of the inner tube. / AFB Culture and Smear / / Note: Process under a hood and refrigerate immediately
MBC / Fungal/AFB Blood Bottle / / Should be processed
Immediately – and placed on the Blood culture analyzer.
Plates / Plates / / Should be processed immediately and taken to the microbiology dept.
PROBE / PROBE – GC and/or Chlamydia / Chlamydia and Gonorrhea / / Vaginal self collect swab, or endocervical swab. Kept at room temperature.
UR / Urine / Chlamydia and Gonorrhea / / Dirty Catch, prefer first morning. RT urine up to 24 hours before being put in preservative. Once in preservative keep at RT.
STLPI / Formalin / Giardia, Ova and Parasites (must be submitted with PVA container) / / Must be placed in vials within 30 minutes
UR / Urine / Urinalysis, Urine Pregnancy test, Urine Drugs of Abuse Screen, Urine Culture;
Urine Chemistry;
Post vasectomy / / Clean Catch; refrigerate within 30 minutes
Fertility / Glass container / / Process immediately
FOBI / Fecal Occult Immunoassay / Fecal Occult blood / / Store at RT after inoculated with stool.
Stool Studies / Cdiff Toxin, Fecal Leukocytes,
Fecal Occult, / / Refrigerate immediately.
Respiratory Studies
(1ml) / VRPMA
Bordetella
RSV
Influenza
(Rapid or PCR) / / Preferred swab. Refrigerate immediately,
UP / Urine / Urine Culture and Sensitivity / / Clean Catch,
Placed in tube within 30 minutes, after placed in tube can be kept at RT
M4SWAB / Viral Swab (3ml) / HSV
Can perform:
VRPMA
Bordetella
RSV
Influenza
(Rapid or PCR) / / Refrigerate immediately
Swab / Swab – White top for wounds. Documentation of source. / Wound Culture / / Processed within 30 minutes
NP Swab / Blue Top Nasopharyngeal Swab / VRPMA
Bordetella
RSV
Influenza
(Rapid or PCR) / / Viral swab perferred. Refrigerate immediately
STLOR / Carey-Blair / EPMA / / Stool must be placed in the perservative within 30 minutes;
Then Refrigerate immediately.
STLBL / Total-Fix / Ova and Parasites / / Stool must be placed in the perservative within 30 minutes;
Then leave at RT or refrigerate
STLGR / PVA / Ova and Parasites (must be submitted with pink formalin container) / / Stool must be placed in the perservative within 30 minutes;
Then leave at RT or refrigerate
PINW / Pinworm Paddle / Pinworm / / Process as stats, regardless of priority requested;
Leave in MICRO at RT
PATH / Various containers and specimens. / Specimens may or may not be on formalin. Specimens may be Fresh, Frozen, or Permanent. / Note: the above photo is only a few examples of containers for Pathology specimens. There are other various containers for Path specimens that may or may not be on a preservative. / Immediately deliver to Histology and hand to staff duirng business hours.
After business hours consult with Charge Tech or Pathologist
PAP / PAP container for PAP smears / PAP smears / Sure Prep Pap

Thin Prep Pap
/ Deliver to Cyto Counter by 0600 following receipt
Deliver to Cyto Counter by 0600 following receipt
RPMI / Orange cap tube / Chromosome analysis for tissue only / / Deliver to Histology at RT;
Special tube required located in Histology refrigerator
CRDST
MECST / Orange Top or
Blue Top Urine Cups / Cord Drug Screen
Meconium Drug Screens / / Special requirements…. Evidence tape with date and initials and charge tech locks up… if there is paperwork it needs to be given to the Send outs bench.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Document/Form Title / Document Identification
Outpatient Phlebotomy Training Guide / 36200.830

REFERENCES

Document/Form Title
College of American Pathologists (CAP) Laboratory Standards (current edition)

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