Carefully remove the plasma, aliquot a minimum of 2 mL of plasma into each of two plastic transport tubes, and quick freeze immediately. X is the volume of anticoagulant required to prepare unit volume of anticoagulated blood. Carefully remove the plasma from cells without disturbing the cells. To avoid delays in turnaround time when requesting multiple tests on frozen samples, please submit separate frozen specimens for each test requested. Storage Instructions Maintain whole blood at room temperature.
Methodology See constituent tests.
Additional Information Platelet adhesion and aggregation with subsequent intravascular coagulation occur physiologically as early stages in the reparative response to vascular injury, in which the nonthrombogenic endothelium has been torn or rubbed away. Naturally occurring inhibitors, including prostacycline and antithrombin III, normally control the intravascular clotting process. The amount and rate of entry of thromboplastins into the circulation determine the severity and rapidity of the process. A corollary of primary importance in therapy is removal of the source of thromboplastic agents if possible. The process of intravascular coagulation results in the partial to nearly complete conversion of plasma to serum.