THROMBIN TIME (089-0436)

CPT 4 Code:  85670

Test Order Mnemonic: THROMBIN

Applies To: Useful in diagnosis and/or detection of dysfibrinogenemia, fibrin degradation products, hypofibrinogenemia or dysproteinemia.

Request Form: Hematology A

Collection: Routine venipuncture; discard 1st mL of blood or collect other tubes (EDTA, red-topped) prior to collecting sample in blue-topped (citrate) tube.

Storage Instructions:  Viable for 4 hours at room temperature. If time from draw to receipt in the laboratory is to be greater than 4 hours, centrifuge the specimen; remove the plasma from red cells and snap freeze (-70°C) plasma. Snap frozen plasma is viable indefinitely.

Causes for Rejection: QNS, clotted, severely hemolyzed specimen, specimen greater than 4 hours old, identification error, sample processed and/or stored improperly.

Availability: Samples are accepted 24 hours per day at Sample Management, 5.136 McCullough Bld.

Turnaround Time: STAT: 1 hour;  ROUTINE: 4 hours

Special Instructions: Deliver sample to lab within ½ hour for best results. Accepted up to 4 hours from draw.

Specimen: Blood

Volume: 4.5 mL blood

Container: 3.2% Sodium citrate tube (light blue top tube)

Reference Ranges: 14.9 – 18.5 seconds

Test Method: Electromechanical viscosity detection

Interfering Substances: Heparin

  Revised 10/16/06 by W.Russo, MT(ASCP)