This week, we're examining serum tubes—plain red tops and gold serum separator tubes (SST)—and discovering why these tubes must be drawn before tubes containing EDTA, heparin, or other anticoagulants
Outstanding breakdown of serum tube mechanics. The point about 30-minute wait time even when clots appear solid really cuts through a common workplace shortcut I've seen firsthand. Labs dunno why we get fibrin-flagged specimens until someone explains clot retraction doesn't finish the moment formation looks complete. What really stands out is how silica's Factor XII activation creates this whole cascade vulnerability, making even trace EDTA contamination enough to mess up everything downstream.
Hi, good question. There are a few causes for this, and it is often related to a density issue with the patients serum. Hyperlipidemia or hyperproteinemia or incomplete clotting can all lead to the gel not separating the serum from the cells.
Brilliant teaching, here's my tidbit adds. Our corporation is no longer offering Troponins, they didn't say why.
Also along with a lot of other antiquated tests and how they're collected, here's one: clot retraction. Hardly needs explanation but basically draw a full plain red ( when absolutely no additive was in there), pop it in the microbiology incubator and a tech would grade how much the clot had retracted after one hour.
Electrolytes collected in Natelson tubes on ice, Lee Whites, Rumple-Leeds capillary fragility tests ... 'I got a million of 'em.' 🤗
Outstanding breakdown of serum tube mechanics. The point about 30-minute wait time even when clots appear solid really cuts through a common workplace shortcut I've seen firsthand. Labs dunno why we get fibrin-flagged specimens until someone explains clot retraction doesn't finish the moment formation looks complete. What really stands out is how silica's Factor XII activation creates this whole cascade vulnerability, making even trace EDTA contamination enough to mess up everything downstream.
Hi, anyone had high crp sample showing gel staying at bottom of tube after centrifuging ? Instead of being at center between clot and serum
Hi, good question. There are a few causes for this, and it is often related to a density issue with the patients serum. Hyperlipidemia or hyperproteinemia or incomplete clotting can all lead to the gel not separating the serum from the cells.
Brilliant teaching, here's my tidbit adds. Our corporation is no longer offering Troponins, they didn't say why.
Also along with a lot of other antiquated tests and how they're collected, here's one: clot retraction. Hardly needs explanation but basically draw a full plain red ( when absolutely no additive was in there), pop it in the microbiology incubator and a tech would grade how much the clot had retracted after one hour.
Electrolytes collected in Natelson tubes on ice, Lee Whites, Rumple-Leeds capillary fragility tests ... 'I got a million of 'em.' 🤗