Guideline for Collecting & Handling Specimen

At ProCare Medical Laboratory, we are committed to delivering accurate and reliable diagnostic results. Adhering to these guidelines ensures that specimens are collected in a manner that minimizes contamination and degradation. Thus, clinicians can enhance the quality of specimens submitted to our laboratory, ultimately leading to more accurate test results.

Jump to:

• General guidelines
  • Pre-collection & collection
  • Specimen labelling
  • Storage and transportation
• Recommendations for blood specimen collection by Venipuncture (CLSI Guidelines)
• Abbreviations
• Preservatives
• Specimen rejection principles

Pre-collection

• Each test may have specific criteria due to biological variability, as different markers respond uniquely to factors like food intake and medications. Additionally, various analytical methods require particular specimen handling to maintain sample integrity.
• To ensure optimal diagnostic accuracy, it is essential to provide patients with clear instructions ahead of time regarding fasting and medication restrictions.
• For detailed requirements, please refer to the guidelines outlined in our price book, as each test may have unique specifications.

Specimen collection

All specimens will be collected as soon as the laboratory is informed. Urgent laboratory tests requested by physicians can be arranged.

Different specimen containers may be required for different tests. Please check the "Specimen  Requirement" column or phone us if in doubt. 

To ensure result accuracy, specimens will be rejected under the conditions in the "Specimen Rejection Principles".

Specimen labeling

• All primary specimen containers must be labeled at the time of collection with identifiers:
  1. the patient’s full name
  2. either the HKID/Passport number or clinic/patient number
  3. the date and time of collection

Storage and transportation

• Collected specimens must be stored at room temperature or according to the conditions specified for each test prior to pickup. Time-sensitive tests will be indicated in the specimen requirement column. It is important to inform the laboratory before specimen collection so that any special pickup arrangements can be made.
• Specimens collected can be sent to our locations either on your own or by calling our courier service for pickup.  See details here for sending a specimen.

1. Tourniquet Application: The tourniquet must not be applied for more than one minute prior to accessing the vein to prevent hemoconcentration.
2. Syringe Use: Syringes should not be used for trace element collections that include testing for cobalt and chromium, as the plunger tip can contaminate the specimen with these elements.
3. Order of Draw: Blood-collection tubes must be filled in a proper order to prevent the carryover of additives from one tube to the next. Such carryover can alter the composition of subsequent tubes, leading to erroneous results and potentially misleading physicians, which may result in critical errors in patient management. Adherence to the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines for the order of draw is essential.

24-hour Urine Specimen Preservatives

To ensure result accuracy, ProCare Medical Laboratory has established specimen rejection criteria in accordance with ISO 15189 requirements and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) recommendations.

Specimens will be rejected under the following conditions, except in specific cases where the specimen is rare, involves an invasive procedure, or cannot be easily recollected:

1. Unlabeled Specimens
2. Incorrectly Labeled Specimens/Request Forms
3. Improper Containers: This includes incorrect preservatives, inappropriate anticoagulants, or containers that may be contaminated with interfering chemicals or cleaners.
4. Inappropriate Specimen Conditions for Testing:
   • Specimen is hemolyzed.
   • Specimen is milky due to chylomicrons.
   • Specimen has been stored too long before collection and transportation.
   • Specimen was collected at the wrong time for a timed test.
   • Specimen was collected from a non-fasting patient when fasting is required.
   • Specimen was taken from patients using drugs or vitamins that may interfere with test results.
   • Specimen was collected or transported in an unsuitable medium.
   • Urine and stool specimens lack a recorded collection time.
   • Urine or stool specimens for routine, culture, or drug sensitivity tests that are kept at room temperature for more than 8 hours or refrigerated for more than 24 hours.