Coverslips should be made in the following manner:
1. Using two glass coverslips, place a small drop of blood directly in the center of one coverslip. (If glass slides are being made, please start with the drop of blood at the end opposite the frosted edge.)
2. Drop other coverslip on top of the first so edges do not line up.
3. You will see the blood “fan out” in all directions. When the blood slows down or comes to a stop simply pull the coverslips apart (as you would when making a pull smear). Do not pick one up off the other. If the blood rushes to the edges you’ve used too much blood– if the blood does not “fan out” you either used too little blood or there is dust or surface debris on the coverslip.
4. Allow coverslips to air dry prior to shipping.
Hematocrit Tubes…
When separating the plasma from the RBC’s, do not “bust” the tube. This will only cause you to lose most of the sample. Using a three-sided file, gently “score” at the plasma/RBC interface. You will hear a light “etching” sound. The tube will break easily and you can then transfer the plasma into the serum transport bullet.
DHL Express Packaging & Shipments…
- ALWAYS seal your labpack prior to the courier leaving. Don’t count on the courier to seal the package.
- ALWAYS use the EZ Return labels supplied by our lab on your labpacks. If you are running low call the lab for more. Only Avian & Exotic supplies the EZ Return labels. All other DHL supplies should be requested from DHL.
- Be sure to keep the strip at the bottom for your records...the DHL tracking number is printed on it.
- Please use labpacks when shipping. IF you use a box, please use one that will fit into the labpack. This will:
1. Avoid additional dimensional weight charges
2. Labpacks are handled with more care and expeditiously than other types of packaging.
Coverslips.....transport easily in the small plastic slide boxes provided by the lab
..are less destructive to red blood cells and provide more accurate distribution of cells
..can be transported in the same slide box with other components such as slides, hematocrit tubes, serum transport tubes, RTT or GTTRecommended Serum/Plasma Sample Submissions
Test(s) Recommended Alternate Choice CBC Two (2) half-filled, rotated hct tubes & two (2) air-dried coverslips
(whole blood; do not spin & separate)One (1) GTT tube & two (2) air-dried coverslips
(whole blood; do not spin)Mini Reptilian
75 ul separated serum/plasma in a serum transport tube
Two (2) half-filled rotated hct tubes & two (2) air-dried coverslips
(hct tubes are whole blood; do not spin)0.1 cc serum/plasma in a spum RTT or GTT tube
Mini Avian
75 ul separated serum/plasma in a serum transport tube
Two (2) half-filled rotated hct tubes & two (2) air-dried coverslips
(hct tubes are whole blood; do not spin)Two (2) half-filled rotated hct tubes & two (2) air-dried coverslips
Mini Chem
1-2 heparinized hct tubes spun, separated & clayed on one end
(Be sure to leave an air pocket between clay & plasma)0.05 cc serum/plasma in serum transport tube
(GTT or RTT spun and separated can also be used)Complete Avian or
Complete Reptilian75 ul separated serum/plasma in a serum transport tube
(or 2-3 heparinized hct tubes spun, separated & clayed on one end)
Two (2) half-filled rotated hct tubes & two (2) air-dried coverslips
(hct tubes are whole blood; do not spin)0.1 cc serum/plasma in a spum RTT or GTT tube
Two (2) half-filled rotated hct tubes & two (2) air-dried coverslips
(hct tubes are whole blood; do not spin)Small Mammal
150 ul separated serum/plasma in a serum transport tube
0.15 cc serum/plasma in a spun RTT or GTT tube
Complete Chem
1-2 heparinized hct tubes spun, separated & clayed on one end
(Be sure to leave an air pocket between clay & plasma)0.1 cc serum/plasmain a spum RTT or GTT tube
Microscreen or Special Screen
Two (2) heparinized hct tubes spun, separated & clayed on one end
Two (2) half-filled rotated hct tubes & two (2) air-dried coverslips
(hct tubes are whole blood; do not spin)0.05 cc serum/plasma in a serum transport tube & two (2) air-dried coverslips
Chlamydial DCF 0.1 cc serum/plasmain a serum transport tube Three (3) hep hct tubes spun & separated Resting T-4 0.05 cc serum/plasmain spun GTT or RTT tube
2-3 heparinized hct tubes spun, separated & clayed on one end
