Patent ID: 8265904

Claim:
An automatic method for determining that a collection device was incorrectly used to collect a sample for analysis of analyte species in the sample, the method comprising: (a) adding the sample to an analyzer instrument having means for analyzing species that include a monovalent cation, a divalent cation, and one or more other analytes, wherein the sample is from the collection device; (b) determining a concentration of the monovalent cation, a concentration of the divalent cation, and a concentration of the one or more other analytes in said sample; (c) comparing the monovalent cation concentration to a predetermined upper threshold concentration value and the divalent cation concentration to a predetermined lower threshold concentration value; and (d) reporting by said analyzer instrument that the sample was collected with a wrong anticoagulant when both said threshold concentration values are surpassed, but not when only one of said threshold concentration values is surpassed, where a correct collection device for the sample omits a selected anticoagulant.