Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Whole blood and smears

Collection Container/Tube: Lavender top (EDTA)

Specimen Volume: 5 mL EDTA, 1 stained slide and 4 unstained slides

Collection Instructions:

1. Prepare 5, well-made peripheral blood smears from fingerstick blood or fresh EDTA whole blood.  Stain 1, and leave the other 4 smears unstained.  Fresh EDTA whole blood is ideal (smears prepared in less than 4 hours).

2. Label with patient's name (first and last), date of birth, date of draw and MRN.  Only label the slides (not the slide carrier).

3. Protect prepared slides from exposure to alcohol and formalin during transport.

4. Complete blood count (CBC) results must accompany specimen.  In Epic, require a published CBC with differential.