scope:

This guideline addresses handling and processing of blood specimens for examination procedures using serum, plasma, or whole blood in the clinical laboratory. The variables associated with precentrifugation, centrifugation, and postcentrifugation phases of specimen handling and processing are emphasized. Factors that can introduce test result inaccuracy or systematic bias after the specimen is collected but before the test is performed are discussed and performance criteria for in vitro diagnostic blood collection devices used to separate serum or plasma from cellular components are also addressed.

This guideline specifies criteria to assist the laboratory and other health care providers in recognizing and reducing or eliminating preexamination errors resulting from improper handling of blood specimens. When applicable, the recommendations should be considered by the following laboratory areas: chemistry, coagulation, hematology, immunology, ligand assay, serology, toxicology/therapeutic drug monitoring, virology, blood bank, and molecular or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) analysis. Information provided in this document on handling and processing of blood specimens for coagulation, hematology, and virology is limited. Users are referred to the current version of applicable CLSI documents for more detailed discussion as appropriate.