Specimen

Citrated Plasma

Collection Medium:

Minimum:

Draw blood in a light blue-top (3.2% sodium citrate) tube.

Delivery Instructions:

Deliver to laboratory within 2 hours of collection.

Testing Schedule:

0700-1500, 7 days a week, including holidays.

Analytic Time:

3 working days

Reference Range:

Therapeutic range: 0.3-0.7 IU/mL for unfracionated heparin.  The 
therapeutic range for low molecular weight heparins varies with the 
type and manufacturer, but is typically between 0.4 and 1.1 IU/mL.

Comments:

Scheduled through Hematology consult Service. Once processed testing 
will be sent to a reference laboratory for analysis.

Patient medications must be recorded on the laboratory requisition.

Heparin, Low Molecular Weight (Xa Inhibition) or Heparin, LMW was 
previously called "Enoxaparin" when performed on-site.

Test
Limitations:

Double-centrifuged specimens are critical for accurate results as 
platelet contamination may cause spurious results.

Methodology:

Chromogenic method on STA compact

CPT Code:

85520