Is it acceptable to use coagulation plasma samples stored at room temperature and 4°C for 24 hours for additional prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, antithrombin, and D‐dimer testing?

Abstract

Plasma samples stored both at RT and 4°C for 24 hours are acceptable for additional PT, Fbg, and AT testing. Plasma samples stored 24 hours in primary tubes at 4°C are suitable for D-dimer testing.

Pre‐analytical stability of coagulation parameters in plasma stored at room temperature

“…Several studies, including ours, observed a stability of 24 hours for PT determination of samples stored at RT, confirming the storage time given by the current CLSI guidelines. After 48‐hours to 52‐hours storage at RT, Zürcher et al observed a mean percentage decrease of 10.8%.…”

“…We studied the stability of aliquoted plasma samples stored at RT for up to 48 hours. Several studies have investigated the stability of coagulation parameters, mainly routine haemostasis parameters, in different storage conditions; however, information regarding the stability of coagulation factors studied for up to 48 hours is scarce …”

“…The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines (Document H21‐A5) state that whole blood samples or plasma samples, stored at room temperature (RT), for routine haemostasis tests or determination of coagulation factors should be analysed within 4 hours after sample collection, with exception of prothrombin time (PT) testing with stability up to 24 hours . However, for many coagulation parameters, acceptance of a longer storage time at RT is described . This information can be interesting, for example, when additional coagulation tests are requested or when laboratories have to outsource coagulation tests to a laboratory at distance from the place of sample collection.…”

In vitro assessment of quality of citrate‐phosphate‐dextrose‐adenine‐1 preserved feline blood collected by a commercial closed system

“…These findings were expected, given that, according to several studies and to the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute guidelines, coagulation cascade parameters begin to be unstable after 4–8 hours after collection and storage at 2°C‐4°C . According to these guidelines, the recommended maximum storage time of samples for the determination of PT is 24 hours at room temperature, whereas aPTT should be determined within 4 hours after collection . In the present study, we observed that PT mean values (11.2 seconds at T0 and 12.8 at T35) increased less than aPTT ones (12.5 seconds at T0 and 18.9 at T35), which is explainable with the lower stability of samples for aPTT testing than PT testing …”

Effect of Centrifuge Temperature on Routine Coagulation Tests

“…For example, Rimac and Herak [23] examined whether fresh plasma samples stored at room temperature and at 4°C for up to 24 h after blood collection can still be accepted for additional routine coagulation testing of PT, aPTT, fibrinogen, antithrombin, and D-dimer in order to reduce unnecessary additional sampling. Salvagno et al [20] investigated the sample stability with regard to the temperature and the time before centrifugation, andvan der Meer et al [24] investigated transport conditions and light exposure in a clinical platelet study conducted in 3 countries.…”