title: Effects of sample transportation on commonly requested laboratory tests.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little evidence is available in literature on the effects of sample transportation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of an integrated system for sample transportation on the quality of six laboratory parameters considered representative of the quality of all tests requested and performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The values of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), calcium (Ca), potassium (K), activated prothrombin time (APTT), prostate specific antigen (PSA), and hemoglobin (Hb) obtained in samples collected in peripheral centers in 2007 were compared with those obtained in 2011, following the introduction of the integrated transportation system entailing a tertiary and a secondary container, a data-logger for registering time and temperature, a mission starter and a system manager.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2007, for ALT, APTT and K, there were significant variations between findings for samples transported from long-term and those from short-term peripheral centers; following the introduction of the transportation system, no such variations were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improvement in the quality of sample transportation has been achieved, particularly for three of the six parameters evaluated, following the introduction of the integrated system described in the present study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, University-Hospital, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaninotto
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tasinato
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Padoan
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vecchiato
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinato
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sciacovelli
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plebani
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000032:analysis; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014186:Transportation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium