title: Pre-analytical effects of pneumatic tube system transport on routine haematology and coagulation tests, global coagulation assays and platelet function assays.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pneumatic tube system (PTS) in hospitals is commonly used for the transport of blood samples to clinical laboratories, as it is rapid and cost-effective. The aim was to compare the effects on haematology samples of a newly acquired ~2km-long PTS that links 2 hospitals with usual transport (non-pneumatic tube system, NPTS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Complete blood cell count, routine coagulation assays, platelet function tests (PFT) with light-transmission aggregometry and global coagulation assays including ROTEM® and thrombin generation assay (TGA) were performed on blood samples from 30 healthy volunteers and 9 healthy volunteers who agreed to take aspirin prior to blood sampling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The turnaround time was reduced by 31% (p<0.001) with the use of PTS. No statistically significant difference was observed for most routine haematology assays including PFT, and ROTEM® analysis. A statistically significant, but not clinically relevant, shortening of the APTT after sample transport by PTS was found (mean±SD: 30s±1.8 vs. 29.5s±2.1 for NPTS). D-dimer levels were 7.4% higher after transport through PTS but were not discordant. A statistically significant increase of thrombin generation was found in both platelet poor- and platelet rich- plasma samples after PTS transport compared to NPTS transport.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PTS is suitable for the transport of samples prior to routine haematology assays including PFT, but should not be used for samples intended for thrombin generation measurement.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'hématologie Grand Est, Centre de Biologie et de Pathologie Est, Hospices Civils de Lyon, France; Unité d'hémostase clinique, Hôpital Cardiologique Louis Pradel, Lyon, Hospices Civils de Lyon, France. Electronic address: sandra.le-quellec@chu-lyon.fr.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Le Quellec
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biochimie, Centre de Biologie et de Pathologie Est, Hospices Civils de Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Mickaël
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paris
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'hématologie Grand Est, Centre de Biologie et de Pathologie Est, Hospices Civils de Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nougier
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'hématologie Grand Est, Centre de Biologie et de Pathologie Est, Hospices Civils de Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sobas
authors.affiliation: Unité d'hémostase clinique, Hôpital Cardiologique Louis Pradel, Lyon, Hospices Civils de Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rugeri
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'hématologie Grand Est, Centre de Biologie et de Pathologie Est, Hospices Civils de Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Girard
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'hématologie Grand Est, Centre de Biologie et de Pathologie Est, Hospices Civils de Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bordet
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'hématologie Grand Est, Centre de Biologie et de Pathologie Est, Hospices Civils de Lyon, France; Unité d'hémostase clinique, Hôpital Cardiologique Louis Pradel, Lyon, Hospices Civils de Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Négrier
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'hématologie Grand Est, Centre de Biologie et de Pathologie Est, Hospices Civils de Lyon, France; Unité d'hémostase clinique, Hôpital Cardiologique Louis Pradel, Lyon, Hospices Civils de Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Yesim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dargaud
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests / Q000379:methods*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000166:cytology; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006487:Hemostasis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D010979:Platelet Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013916:Thrombelastography / Q000379:methods
keywords: Haematology; Platelet function tests; Pneumatic tube system; Pre-analytical variables; Samples transport; Thrombin generation assay; Thromboelastography