BD Vacutainer® PPT™ Plasma Preparation Tube

Specimen Collection & Handling

Preparation for Specimen Collection

Be sure the following materials are readily accessible before performing venipuncture:

1. See required equipment above.
2. All necessary tubes, identified for size, draw, and additive.
3. Labels for positive patient identification of samples.

Prevention of Backflow

Since BD PPT™Tubes contains a chemical additive, it is important to avoid possible backflow from the tube, with the possibility of adverse patient reactions. To guard against backflow, observe the following precautions:

1. Place patient's arm in a downward position.
2. Hold tube with the stopper uppermost.
3. Release tourniquet as soon as blood starts to flow into tube.
4. Make sure tube additives do not touch stopper or end of the needle during venipuncture.

Instruction for Removal of Hemogard® Closure

1. Grasp the BD PPT™ Tube with one hand, placing the thumb under the BD Hemogard™ Closure. (For added stability, place arm on solid surface.) With the other hand, twist the BD Hemogard™ Closure while simultaneously pushing up with the thumb of the other hand ONLY UNTIL THE TUBE STOPPER IS LOOSENED.
2. Move thumb away before lifting closure. DO NOT use thumb to push closure off tube. Caution: If the tube contains blood, an exposure hazard exists. To help prevent injury during closure removal, it is important that the thumb used to push upward on the closure be removed from contact with the tube as soon as the BD Hemogard™ Closure is loosened.
3. Lift closure off tube. In the unlikely event of the plastic shield separating from the rubber stopper, DO NOT REASSEMBLE CLOSURE. Carefully remove rubber stopper from tube.

Instructions for Reinsertion of Hemogard® Closure

1. Replace closure over tube.
2. Twist and push down firmly until stopper is fully reseated. Complete reinsertion of the stopper is necessary for the closure to remain securely on the tube during handling.

Limitations of System

The quantity of blood drawn varies with altitude, ambient temperature, barometric pressure, tube age, venous pressure, and filling technique.

Standard centrifugation conditions to generate plasma for testing does not completely sediment all cells. Accordingly, cell-based metabolism, as well as natural degradation ex vivo may affect plasma analyte concentrations/activities beyond acellular changes.

The flow properties of the barrier material are temperature-related. Flow may be impeded if chilled before or during centrifugation. To optimize flow and prevent heating during centrifugation, set refrigerated centrifuges to 25°C (77°F).

The flow properties of the barrier material are relative centrifugal force (RCF) - related. Optimum plasma separation and barrier formation are diminished at conditions below recommended.

Blood samples should be centrifuged within two hours of collection. Red blood cell contamination of the separated undiluted plasma sample increases with increasing delay before centrifugation. Sample stability in whole blood beyond 2 hours should be validated by your institution or testing laboratory.