Mixing Study, PT only

Synonyms

• EQUAL MIX, PT / INR
• LAB321
• MIX PT
• PROTIME
• STUDY

Cerner Name

Protime 50/50 Mix

Clinical Info

Specimen Sources

Blood, Arterial Blood, Capillary Blood, Central Line Blood, Venous

Specimen Types

Blood

Specimen Volume

Full tube

Container

Blue Top Tube

Collection Instructions

Container/Tube:  Light blue-top (3.2% sodium citrate) tube
Specimen:  Full tube
Transport Temperature:  Refrigerate
Collection Instructions:  1. If no other tube is drawn, draw a discard tube.
2. Fill tube completely.
3. Mix by gently inverting several times.
Collection: 
If the light blue top tube is the only tube to be drawn and will be collected using a butterfly set, a “discard” tube 
(either a plain[non-additive] or light blue) must be partially drawn just to completely fill the collection tubing with 
blood before collecting the light blue top for testing.  Failure to perform this step will result in an under-filled tube 
that the laboratory will reject. Allow blood to fill the tube completely to the line on the tube.  The ratio of blood to 
anticoagulant is critical in coagulation testing and at least a 90% fill is required. Immediately mix the specimen by 
gently inverting the tube 4-6 times to completely mix with the anticoagulant.  Failure to perform this can result in a 
clotted sample, which is unacceptable for testing. If centrifugation of the specimen cannot be performed immediately 
after collection, whole blood must be transported to the lab within 1 hour of collection. Whole blood cannot be
refrigerated or frozen.
If centrifugation is possible, and transport to the lab will not occur within 1 hour, spin down, remove the plasma to a 
clean plastic transport tube using a plastic transfer pipette, and spin the plasma again.  Remove the plasma with a 
clean plastic transfer pipette to a fresh transport container and freeze this citrated platelet-poor plasma immediately.  
A double centrifuged specimen is critical for accurate results as platelet contamination may cause spurious results.   
Each coagulation assay requested should have its own vial of citrated plasma, 1.0mL each

Transport Instructions

Refrigerate if Primary Blur top    Frozen if  Platelet Free Plasma 

Specimen Stability

Methodology

Clotting-ACL TOPS/IL

Days Performed

Monday through Sunday

Performing Laboratories

Northwell Health Laboratories

CPT

85732

PDM

5601010

Results

Result Interpretation

Forms