NIH, National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD) NIH - National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute DCTD - Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis

Implementation of a pneumatic-tube system for transport of blood specimens.

Author(s): Poznanski W, Smith F, Bodley F

Publication: Am J Clin Pathol, 1978, Vol. 70, Page 291-5

PubMed ID: 696689 PubMed Review Paper? No

Purpose of Paper

The purpose of this paper was to determine the effects of pneumatic tube system (PTS) transport, tube fill volume, anticoagulation with heparin, and clotting prior to transport on clinical chemistry analytes in blood.

Conclusion of Paper

For specimens collected with no anticoagulant, total carbon dioxide (CO2) and chloride (Cl-) were slightly increased in specimens transported by PTS rather than hand-delivered. PTS transport rather than hand-delivery did not affect potassium (K+), hemoglobin, or lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) when the collection tubes were half-filled or contained heparin, but LDH was increased in clotted blood that was sent by PTS rather than hand-delivered.

Studies

  1. Study Purpose

    The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of PTS transport, tube fill volume, anticoagulation with heparin, and clotting prior to transport on clinical chemistry analytes in blood. Blood was obtained from patients in the emergency room or intensive care unit and transported immediately or allowed to clot for 15 min prior to transport. For blood gas analysis the specimens were wrapped in a cold pack prior to immediate transport.

    Summary of Findings:

    CO2 and Cl- were slightly increased in specimens transported by PTS rather than hand-delivered. Transport method did not affect K+, hemoglobin, or LDH when collection tubes were half-filled or when they contained heparin, but LDH was increased in clotted blood that was sent by PTS rather than hand-delivered. For unclotted specimens collected with no anticoagulant, glucose, urea, sodium, K+, LDH, hemoglobin, pH, partial pressure oxygen (PO2), and partial pressure carbon dioxide (PCO2) were unaffected by transport method.

    Biospecimens
    Preservative Types
    • None (Fresh)
    Diagnoses:
    • Not specified
    Platform:
    AnalyteTechnology Platform
    Carbohydrate Clinical chemistry/auto analyzer
    Electrolyte/Metal Clinical chemistry/auto analyzer
    Protein Clinical chemistry/auto analyzer
    Gas Clinical chemistry/auto analyzer
    Small molecule Clinical chemistry/auto analyzer
    Pre-analytical Factors:
    ClassificationPre-analytical FactorValue(s)
    Storage Within hospital transportation method Hand-delivered
    Pneumatic tube system
    Biospecimen Acquisition Anticoagulant None
    Heparin
    Biospecimen Aliquots and Components Aliquot size/volume Half-filled vacutainer
    Filled vacutainer
    Storage Specimen transport duration/condition Unclotted
    Clotted

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