There are also a few tests that require the specimens to be kept at or close to body temperature (98.6°F or 37°C). They can include:
- Cold agglutinins
- Cryoglobulins
- Blood cultures
- Quantiferon (TB) samples
The testing and test reactions for cold agglutinins and cryoglobulins take place in the refrigerator. Cooling would render the specimens unusable and they would have to be recollected causing a delay in turn-around time for the patient test results.
With blood cultures, the laboratory is trying to retrieve viable micro-organisms which have been living at body temperature (98.6°F) and may be shocked when subjected to any temperature change. This compromise may result in the death of the micro-organisms and an incorrect negative blood culture report.