Impact of blood volume, air exposure duration, transport duration, and testing delay on plasma total carbon dioxide in simulated open collections using microtainers.

Background: Exposing blood specimens to air reduces plasma total carbon dioxide (TCO). We evaluated the degree of TCO reduction attributed to open collection of neonatal blood in BD microtainers® (microtainers), microtainer transport duration and delayed testing of open plasma aliquots.

Methods: Venous blood was aliquoted into open microtainers in a 3x4 factorial design to simulate combined effects of blood volume (0.

Whole Blood Cardiac Troponin "Triaging" to Improve Early Detection of Myocardial Injury at a Pediatric Hospital.

Background: The importance of offering on-site cardiac troponin (cTn) testing at pediatric hospitals may be underappreciated. We developed a rapid rule-in process for myocardial injury at a pediatric hospital experiencing delays in off-site high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) testing.

Methods: Collect-to-verify turnaround times (TATs) for off-site testing were reviewed.

Distribution of videos demonstrating best practices in preventing hemolysis is associated with reduced hemolysis among nurse-collected specimens in hospitals.

Background: Minimizing hemolysis during phlebotomy ensures accurate chemistry results and reduces test cancellations and specimen recollections. We developed videos demonstrating best practices to reduce hemolysis and tested whether distribution to clinical nurse educators (CNEs) for provision to nursing staff affected the degree of specimen hemolysis in hospital inpatient units and outpatient clinics.

Methods: Videos of common blood collections demonstrating best practices to reduce hemolysis were filmed and then distributed via email link to all hospital-based CNEs in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Evaluation of the stability of fecal immunochemical test specimens.

Fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) are used to screen for colorectal cancer by detecting blood present in stool. Patients collect FIT specimens at home in a sampling kit and return them to the lab for testing. At our institution, patients are instructed to return their specimens to the laboratory within seven days from collection, which is shorter than the manufacturer stated room temperature (RT) stability of 15 days.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, cardiovascular risk markers, and incident cardiovascular disease in a high risk community population.

Background: It is unclear whether vitamin D status is related to cardiovascular risk beyond that explained by conventional risk markers. We examined the relationship between serum 25-hydroxy (OH) vitamin D and incident cardiovascular disease (CVD; heart attack/stroke) after adjusting for individual- and community-level covariates from laboratory, administrative and survey data.

Methods: Patients receiving their first 25-OH vitamin D test in Calgary, Alberta from 2009 to 2013 without a past CVD diagnosis but an electrocardiogram and body mass index (BMI) +/- 3 months from testing were included.

Urine protein detection by dipstick: No interference from alkalinity or specific gravity.

Tetrabromphenol blue dye based methods are used to detect proteinuria using urinalysis dipsticks. Manufacturers have claimed that alkalinity leads to false positive proteinuria, and that high specific gravity leads to false negative protein results. However, published reports describing this phenomenon remain equivocal.

Fasting time and vitamin B12 levels in a community-based population.

Objectives: Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin (Cbl), is an essential vitamin that manifests with numerous severe but non-specific symptoms in cases of deficiency. Assessing Cbl status often requires fasting, although this requirement is not standard between institutions. This study evaluated the impact of fasting on Cbl levels in a large community-based cohort in an effort to promote standardization of Cbl testing between sites.

One-step extraction and quantitation of toxic alcohols and ethylene glycol in plasma by capillary gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionization detection (FID).

Objectives: Clinical analysis of volatile alcohols (i.e. methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and metabolite acetone) and ethylene glycol (EG) generally employs separate gas chromatography (GC) methods for analysis.