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Samples
Sample Submission
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Specimen tubes, containers and transport media are provided free of charge for samples submitted to VITA-TECH. Supplies requested for other purposes are also available, however, charges may apply. To order supplies, fax a completed Supply Request Form to 905 475-7309. Please allow 3-5 business days for delivery of supplies.
Requisition Forms
VITA-TECH provides requisition forms for:
Requisition forms for regulatory testing are available from the respective government agencies. Please ensure forms for regulatory testing are completed in full, including the signature of an accredited veterinarian.
Sample Identification
All specimens must be clearly labeled with the patient’s name and accompanied by the
appropriate requisition form.
Missing or illegible information may cause a delay in result reporting.
Shipping Requirements
Please see the Test Information section for specific sample, storage, and shipping requirements.
The requisition form and specimens for a patient should be submitted in a sample bag (one sample bag for each patient). Sample bags are available from VITA-TECH. For large quantities of specimens, tube shipping boxes (for up to 40 tubes) are also available. Samples picked-up by a VITA-TECH courier will be transported in refrigerated coolers. However, if a frozen sample is required for testing, the sample should be packaged with ice packs by the clinic. Samples sent overnight via commercial courier should be shipped with ice packs and packaged to minimize breakage during transport. VITA-TECH is happy to provide styrofoam shipping containers for vacutainers and preprinted waybills to clinics located outside of our local courier network.
Dangerous Samples
The safety of our staff and your clinic’s staff are of paramount importance to us. For
everyone’s safety, please do not submit any samples in syringes with needles attached.
As well, please ensure that urine or specimens preserved in formalin or SAF are submitted
in tightly sealed leak-proof polypropylene or polystyrene containers.
Transport Notes
Please see the Test Information section for specific sample, storage, and shipping requirements.
Red Top (Plain)
Although SST tubes are preferred for serum specimens, they are inappropriate for Digoxin testing. Red top tubes also provide better results when testing for Phenobarbital and Bromide levels. Whenever a Red top tube is used, serum should be removed from the clot and transferred into a plain tube.
Gold Top (Serum Separator Tubes (SST))
Serum Separator tubes (SST) should be allowed to clot for 15 minutes before centrifugation.
Centrifuged SST tubes provide a permanent barrier between cells and
serum, allowing for the highest quality test sample. Centrifuged SST tubes eliminate
the need for submission of Grey top tubes for glucose testing.
Grey Top (Sodium Fluoride / Potassium Oxalate)
Sodium fluoride retards, but does not eliminate, the metabolism of glucose.
Sufficient sample (1-2 ml) must be drawn to prevent over-dilution and hemolysis.
For optimal glucose results, please provide serum in a centrifuged SST.
Lavender Top (EDTA)
Sufficient blood (1-2 ml) should be drawn in a Lavender Top to avoid excessive
artifact. Tubes should be mixed thoroughly by repeated inversion to avoid clotting.
Samples with clots may produce inaccurate results.
Blue Top (Sodium Citrate)
Coagulation testing samples require a full draw, indicated on many Blue Top tubes
by a blue or black line near the top of the label. Tubes should be mixed thoroughly
by repeated inversion to avoid clotting.
If the specimen will not be received by the laboratory within four hours, the sample should be centrifuged and the plasma separated into a plain tube without clot activator (or into a second Blue top tube with the anticoagulant emptied beforehand) and frozen.
Green Top (Lithium Heparin)
Lithium heparin tubes should be mixed thoroughly by repeated inversion to avoid
clotting. Collection into a Green Top is mandatory for Canine Pregnancy testing.
Green Top Microtainer (Lithium Heparin)
Green Top microtainers with gel separator are provided for blood specimens from
avian and exotic pets. If hematology or DNA testing is requested, do not centrifuge
the microtainer.
Slides
Slides submitted for analysis should be air-dried, unfixed and unstained. Slides
should be packaged in plastic or cardboard slide holders to avoid breakage.
Fasting Samples
Although it is not generally a mandatory requirement, peripheral blood specimens should
be drawn after a 4-6 hour fast to ensure optimum sample quality for testing.
Some tests have a mandatory minimum 12 hour fasting requirement:
Animals should be provided with fresh drinking water only during fasting.
Sample Storage
Where transport may be delayed, most specimens are best stored under refrigeration.
However, blood culture bottles must be left at room temperature.
Specimens submitted in formalin or SAF can be left indefinitely at room temperature.
Freezing is mandatory for some specimens:
Please sign-on to the Online Services Directory for specific specimen requirements. |
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