title: Hemolysis associated with pneumatic tube system transport for blood samples.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The frequency of hemolysis of blood samples may be increased by transport in a pneumatic tube system. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of pneumatic tube system transport on hemolysis of blood samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were transported from the emergency department to the hospital laboratory manually by hospital staff (49 patients) or with a pneumatic tube system (53 patients). The hemolysis index and serum chemistry studies were performed on the blood samples and compared between the different methods of transport.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The blood samples that were transported by the pneumatic tube system had a greater frequency of hemolysis and greater mean serum potassium and median creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase levels than samples transported manually.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Blood samples transported from the emergency department to the hospital laboratory by a pneumatic tube system may have a greater frequency of hemolysis than samples transported manually. This may necessitate repeat phlebotomy and cause a delay in completing the laboratory analysis.
authors.affiliation: Hasan Kara, Selcuk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.affiliation: Aysegul Bayir, Selcuk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aysegul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bayir
authors.affiliation: Ahmet Ak, Selcuk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ak
authors.affiliation: Selim Degirmenci, Selcuk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Degirmenci
authors.affiliation: Murat Akinci, Selcuk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akinci
authors.affiliation: Ahmet Agacayak, National Poison Information Center, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agacayak
authors.affiliation: Emine Marcil, Konya Numune Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marcil
authors.affiliation: Melih Azap, Konya Numune Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Melih
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azap
keywords: Analysis; Biochemistry; Blood; Hematology