Specimen Requirements

Container:  One 5-6 mL lithium-heparin whole blood tube - Green Top.  Collection tubes are supplied by RCH laboratory.

Blood collection

1. Label lithium-heparin tube appropriately.  Important: Tubes should be at room temperature (17–25°C) at the time of blood collection.
2. Fill the lithium-heparin blood collection tube (minimum volume 5 ml) and gently mix by inverting the tube several times to dissolve the heparin. 

Important Note:    Whole blood required. Do not centrifuge the tube.  

1. A completed TB Gold reportable risk factors form should be returned with the patient sample. 

Preferred Room Temperature Storage and Handling

1. Blood collected in a lithium-heparin tube must be maintained at room temperature (22°C ± 5°C) for no more than 12 hours from the time of collection prior to transfer to QFT-Plus Blood Collection Tubes and subsequent incubation at the testing laboratory.
2. If the lithium-heparin tube will not reach the testing laboratory within 12 hours of collection the alternate Refrigerated Storage and Transport procedures must be followed.

Alternate Refrigerated Storage and Transport

1. Prior to refrigeration, blood drawn into a lithium-heparin tube must be held at room temperature (17–25°C) between 15 minutes and 3 hours after collection.
2. Store and transport the lithium-heparin tube to the testing laboratory at 2–8°C.
3. Blood drawn into lithium-heparin tube may be refrigerated for 16 to 48 hours prior to transfer to QFT-Plus Blood Collection Tubes at the testing laboratory.  Label the tubes/transport bag as “Refrigerated Handling”