Type and Screen

Message

Labeling must be performed at the patient’s bedside, immediately following specimen collection, by the person who collected the specimen.
Specimens will be rejected if there is evidence that the labeling did not take place at the bedside (i.e. double labeling or additional labeling beneath the blood bank label).
Specimens from other laboratories will not be used for compatibility testing.

Test Code

Alias/See Also

T&S, TS, Antibody screen

Includes

ABO Group, Rh Type, Antibody Screen

Preferred Specimen

10 mL whole blood (5 mL minimum)

Instructions

Blood Bank Armband Labeling System -- consists of a red armband and label set with a unique number printed on them. Each label set includes an armband insert, a "specimen tube" label and several small numbered labels. At the time of specimen collection, the phlebotomist prepares the armband by writing the patient's name, medical record number, date/time of collection and his initials/tech code on the insert. The insert is slid into the red band and placed on the patient's arm. The specimen tube label is applied to the sample and labeled as detailed below. The remainder of the labels and the sample are sent to the laboratory.
Must be legibly labeled with the following:
A. Patient’s complete name
B. Patient’s medical record number
C. Date and time of collection
D. Identification of person collecting the specimen
E. Blood bank armband number

Specimens may be labeled with an LIS label, hospital generated label, or handwritten label. The patient name may be truncated due to space limitations on the label; these are acceptable.

Transport Container

Preferred: 6 mL pink top tube
Optional: 10mL EDTA (purple top) tube
BB/TS labeling system required.

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 24 hours
Refrigerated: <10 days
Frozen: Unacceptable

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Any collection container containing serum-separator (SST)
Improper, incorrect or incomplete labeling
Specimens lacking the BB Armband Labeling system

Report Available

Same day

Limitations

T&S specimens that will be used for compatibility testing routinely expire at midnight on day 3. Day zero is the day of collection.
A. T&S specimens used for compatibility testing of autologous units may be extended up to 10 days.
B. T&S specimens used for the transfusion of platelets, cryoprecipitate, and plasma products may be used for up to 10 days.

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.