The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) performs numerous tests using serum. Proper collection, preparation, and packaging for transportation is imperative to obtaining a quality serum sample. Serum samples that arrive at TVMDL which are hemolyzed and/or lipemia may not be acceptable for testing. Accurate results start with an ideal sample.
Ideal Sample: Clear in appearance and light yellow to straw-like color.
Poor Quality Sample: Pink to red in appearance. Sample is hemolyzed and may not be acceptable for testing.
Poor Quality Sample: Cloudy or milk in appearance. Most often due to lipemia and may not be acceptable for testing.
Additional Guidelines
- Utilizing proper collection techniques, allowing sample to clot for 20-30 minutes, centrifugation, and promptly removing the serum from the clot will help ensure a good quality sample.
- Samples shipped on the clot run a high risk of yielding a hemolyzed serum sample resulting in the sample being untestable or having altered chemistry values.
- It is critical samples be shipped with a cold pack and in an insulated container for overnight delivery. Samples that get warm can grow bacteria, which means a sample that was good when collected could be unacceptable on arrival.
Download a printable version of this document here.
For more information on proper sample transportation methods, visit tvmdl.tamu.edu or call 1.888.646.5623.