SPECIMEN

COLLECTION,
TRANSPORT AND
PROCESSING
BLOOD
 Serum
 Plasma
 Whole blood
CSF
CSF
 Collected through
 Lumbar puncture
 Ventricular aspirate
 Subdural tap
 Aspiration from ventricular shunt
CSF
 Handling and transport
 Generally, up to 20mL can be taken
 Samples are placed into sterile tubes
 Transport to the laboratory STAT
 Store at room temperature to preserve analyte
of interest
• Processed within 1hour of collection
• Place CSF in incubator id temperature is <15C (if cannot be taken to lab quickly
CSF
 CSF (criteria for rejection)
 Sample improperly labelled
 Not freshly collected
 Traumatic sample

 CSF (clinical significance)

 Meningeal infection
 Subarachnoid haemorrhage
 Malignancy
 Neurological disease
 FUO
SYNOVIAL FLUID
 Collection and handling
 Normal amount collected is <3.5mL (increases with disorders)
 Collected in three tubes:
 EDTA tubes – cell count and ddifferentials
 Heparined tubes – chemical and immunologic tests
 Sterile tubes – crystal examination and microbiological testing
SYNOVIAL FLUID
 Clinical significance (to diagnose)
 Gout
 Infection
 Other inflammatory conditions
 Joint injury
 Osteoarthritis
SEROUS FLUIDS
 An ultrfiltrate of plasma derived from the
capillary network of the membrane
 Normally clear and slightly yellow
 Accumulation is called EFFUSION
 Transudate – systemic disorders that disrupt
fluid filtration, fluid reabsorption or both (ie.
Congestive heart failure)
 Exudate – caused by infections, inflammations,
hemorrhages and malignancies that cause
damage to BV walls, membrane damage, or
decreased reabsorption by the lymphatic system
SEROUS FLUIDS
 Pericardial fluid
 normally, the pericardium contains less than 50
ml of fluid.
 Pericardial effusions are an accumulation of
fluid around the heart
 The procedure for removing excess pericardial
fluid is peri-cardiocentesis.
 Pericardial effusions are usually always
exudates.
SEROUS FLUIDS
 Pleural fluid
 The pleural cavity normally contains
less than 30 ml of fluid
 Pleural effusions occur when fluid
accumulates around the lungs.
 A thoracentesis is performed to
remove this excess fluid.
 Pleural effusions can be transudate
or exudate.
SEROUS FLUIDS
 Peritoneal Fluid

A peritoneal effusion is the

accumulation of peritoneal
fluid, also called ascites, in
the abdominal cavity.
SWEAT