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APTT
Test CodePTT
Alias/See Also
Activated Partial Prothrombin Time/ PTT
CPT Codes
85730
Preferred Specimen
4.5 ml of whole blood (tube must be filled to the line)
Minimum Volume
1.8 mL of whole blood (tube must be filled to the line)
Instructions
Collect one full tube. Send to lab immediately. If the specimen needs to be transported, centrifuge the specimen, aliquot the specimen into a separate container, spin again, aliquot the specimen into a new container and freeze.
Transport Container
Sodium citrate (blue top)
Transport Temperature
Room temperature if transport time is less than 4 hours. Ship frozen if transport time will be greater than 4 hours.
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 4 hours (centrifuged or uncentrifuged) capped.
Refrigerated: Not acceptable
Frozen: 2 weeks (-20 degrees), 6 months (-70 degrees)
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Specimens which are not properly filled do not contain the proper anti-coagulant to blood ratio and are therefore rejected. Hemolyzed and clotted specimens are also unacceptable for testing.
Methodology
Clotting
Setup Schedule
Daily
Report Available
Inpatient turn around time: Routine 1.5 hours, stat 45 minutes. Outpatient specimens received by noon will be reported by 4:30. Specimens received after noon will be reported by the next morning.
Clinical Significance
APTT is the recommeded test for monitoring unfractionated heparin therapy.
