Ecarin Clotting Time (ECT)

"Blood should be collected in a blue-top tube containing 3.2% buffered sodium citrate.1 Evacuated collection tubes must be filled to completion to ensure a proper blood to anticoagulant ratio.2,3 The sample should be mixed immediately by gentle inversion at least six times to ensure adequate mixing of the anticoagulant with the blood. A discard tube is not required prior to collection of coagulation samples.4,5 When noncitrate tubes are collected for other tests, collect sterile and nonadditive (red-top) tubes prior to citrate (blue-top) tubes. Any tube containing an alternate anticoagulant should be collected after the blue-top tube. Gel-barrier tubes and serum tubes with clot initiators should also be collected after the citrate tubes. Centrifuge and carefully remove the plasma using a plastic transfer pipette, being careful not to disturb the cells. Transfer the plasma into a LabCorp PP transpak frozen purple tube with screw cap (LabCorp N° 49482). Freeze immediately and maintain frozen until tested. To avoid delays in turnaround time when requesting multiple tests on frozen samples, please submit separate frozen specimens for each test requested.

Please print and use the Volume Guide for Coagulation Testing to ensure proper draw volume.
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500190

"Plasma, frozen
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"0.3 mL
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"Blue-top (sodium citrate) tube
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"Freeze; up to three freeze/thaw cycles are acceptable. Stable at room temperature for up to four hours.
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"Hemolysis (unless patient is on cardiopulmonary bypass and hemolysis is produced in vivo); specimen containing fibrin clots
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"Results of this test are for research purposes only by the assay's manufacturer. The performance characteristics of this assay have not been established. The result should not be used as a diagnostic procedure without confirmation of the diagnosis by another medically established diagnostic product or procedure.
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"Measure the activity of direct thrombin inhibitors in plasma
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