Sample Preparation

• Please fill the tube correctly to avoid artifacts due to low sample volume. Be sure to mix the blood adequately with the anticoagulant by gentle inversion.
  
  
• Make a fresh blood smear at the time of blood collection and enclose the unstained preparation with the sample tubes. This will ensure an optimal morphological evaluation. 
  
  
• Test results will be most valid if samples are less than 24 hours old when arriving at the laboratory.

• Serum tubes should be left horizontally for 15-20 minutes at room temperature after collection.
  
  
• Centrifugation.
  
  
• Remove the serum and place in an Eppendorf tube or other suitable container.
  
  
• The patient should be fasting before collection to avoid postprandial lipemia.
  
  
• When collecting samples on Fridays we recommend storing samples in a refrigerator and shipping Sunday/Monday.

For analysis of thyroid hormones (T4, TSH), cortisol and progesterone, please follow the above instructions for Biochemistry analyses.

Please contact the hospital for specific recommendations concerning additional parameters.

To ensure an optimal interpretation of cytology preparations, please provide the laboratory with the following information:

• Signalement: Patient species, breed, age and sex.
  
  
• Localization and thorough description of the tumor/effusion.
  
  
• Other relevant information, e.g. information regarding diagnostic findings by x-ray, ultrasound, CT/MRI etc. When submitting samples from liver, spleen and/or bone marrow it is furthermore recommended to enclose a CBC printout and/or a fresh blood smear.

• To examine urine sediment, please submit an unstained, air-dried line smear. For guidance please look through our videomaterial in the menu to the right.
  
  
• Remaining urine should be submitted in a suitable close-fitting container.
  
  
• The sample should be refrigerated until submission.

 

• Feces is collected over three consecutive days.
  
  
• The feces must not have been in direct contact with the ground.
  
  
• We recommend using a plastic bag for collection.
  
  
• Please fill up the sample tube.
  
  
• The samples should be refrigerated until submission.
  
  

Routine coagulation assays (Fibrinogen, PT, aPTT, D-dimer)

• Use a citrate tube (3,2% citrate) for coagulation assays.
  
  
• It is essential to ensure a clean venipuncture (atraumatic) and a rapid blood flow when collecting blood for coagulation assays.
  
  
• Use a "waste" citrate-tube before filing the sample tube, so to prevent coagulation by contamination with tissue factor.
  
  
• The sample tube should be filled correctly to ensure the appropriate ratio between anticoagulant and blood.
  
  
• Gently invert the tube 8-10 times to mix the blood with the anticoagulant.
  
  
• Centrifugation.
  
  
• Plasma is removed to an Eppendorf tube or other suitable container.
  • To be analysed within 3 hours of sample collection or
  • The sample should be frozen ( minus 80 degrees celcius) and kept frozen until it reaches the laboratory by prior agreement.

For coagulation assays not routinely performed at the laboratory, please contact the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory before sample collection.