An Introduction to the Fundamentals of Coagulation: Laboratory Tests of Hemostatic Function

Laboratory Tests of Hemostatic Function

  • Specimen rejection criteria established by your laboratory should be followed at all times, as improperly collected or processed coagulation specimens could adversely affect patient results.
  • Generally speaking, hemolyzed specimens should not be used in coagulation testing because ADP liberated from lysed red blood cells can interfere with a number of coagulation tests, especially those involving platelet assessment.
  • Grossly lipemic specimens may cause erroneous results or a clot may not be detected if a photo-optical coagulation system is used. An alternative method that is not affected by lipemia, such as an electromechanical method, may be required One way to avoid a grossly lipemic specimen is to ask the patient to fast prior to specimen collection.

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