title: Low volume tubes are not effective to reduce the rate of hemolyzed specimens from the emergency department.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Spurious hemolysis is the leading source of nonconformities that can be recorded in diagnostic samples, especially those collected in the emergency department (ED). The aim of this study was to assess whether the shift from regular to low volume blood collection tubes may reduce the rate of hemolysis in a large urban ED, where approximately 80% of blood collections are performed through catheters.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a former 5-month period, blood collection in the ED was performed using 5.0mL (13×100mm) plastic serum tubes, which were then completely replaced with 3.5mL (13×75mm) plastic serum tubes for another period of 5months. The rate of hemolyzed specimens (i.e., those containing a cell-free hemoglobin ≥0.5gL) collected in the two periods was compared by Fisher exact test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of hemolyzed specimens received from the ED increased from 3.5% using 5.0mL plastic serum tubes to 5.2% after introduction of 3.5mL plastic serum tubes (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of low volume tubes was not effective to decrease the hemolysis rate in a large urban ED.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, Academic Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy. Electronic address: glippi@ao.pr.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lippi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, Academic Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bonelli
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, Academic Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Virna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Graiani
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Academic Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Catia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caleffi
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Academic Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cervellin
mesh_terms: D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006461:Hemolysis; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Blood collection; Catheter; Hemolysis; Low volume tube