Rw. Burnett et al., APPROVED IFCC RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHOLE-BLOOD SAMPLING, TRANSPORT AND STORAGE FOR SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF PH, BLOOD-GASES AND ELECTROLYTES, European journal of clinical chemistry and clinical biochemistry, 33(4), 1995, pp. 247-253
Pre-analytical variables, e. g., specimen collection, transport, and s
torage, can contribute significantly to inaccurate pH, blood gas, and
electrolyte values, The International Federation of Clinical Chemistry
(IFCC), through its Committee on pH, Blood Gases and Electrolytes, ha
s developed specific recommendations to minimize the undesirable effec
ts of pre-analytical variables. The Committee has drawn upon the exper
iences of its own members as well as published data by others. Specifi
cally, the Committee has included pertinent guidelines and suggestions
by the IFCC Working Group on Selective Electrodes (WGSE), the Nationa
l Committee on Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS), and the Electrol
yte/Blood Gas Division of the American Association for Clinical Chemis
try (AACC). This paper will familiarize the reader with the effect of
different types of specimen containers and anticoagulants. It discusse
s important aspects of specimen collection procedures including patien
ts status and special precautions during specimen collection from indw
elling catheters or cannulae. The paper also identifies different requ
irements in storage and transport of specimens for blood gas and elect
rolyte analysis.