Hi, Sutirtha. Remember that the “empty” red top tubes actually have clot activator (required to make blood clot in plastic tubes). If there is insufficient
clot activator in the tube lots you have or, more likely, there is insufficient mixing immediately after collection, the centrifugation may be taking place before clotting is complete. Thus, clotting of the supernatant plasma may be occurring in the absence
of the already pelleted cells. Recall that it often takes 15-20 minutes for blood to clot well in tubes (longer if the patient is on anticoagulants).
I agree with Michael Peake – there are a lot of advantages to using Li heparin plasma for neonates. Rarely do you need serum.
Hope to see you in Atlanta. -Jim
From: Clinical biochemistry discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Dr. Sutirtha Chakraborty
Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2015 2:22 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Problems with BD Microtainer Red Top Tubes
Dear Mailbase,
We are facing a weird problem with our Pediatric samples. The serum is clotted in most samples drawn. This problem started with the use of the BD Microtainer red top collection
tubes. Attached is a photograph.
We also used a different Lot of tubes from the same manufacturer, but still the problem remains
Anyone with similar experiences?
--
Dr Sutirtha Chakraborty, MBBS, MD, FACB
Chief Consultant, Department of Biochemistry
Peerless Hospital & B.K Roy Research Center
Kolkata 700094, West Bengal, India
Mobile: +91 9874787638
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