Abstract
Consensus about the handling of specimens for coagulation studies was announced in 2016 by The Japanese Society for Laboratory Hematology, Standardization Committee, Coagulation Study Standardization Working Group. We carried out a questionnaire survey to investigate the current status of each facility in the prefecture through the Hiroshima Association of Medical Technologists, Clinical Blood Section (response rate, 63.2%). Concerning blood sampling, the answers were in good agreement. Among the facilities that responded to the survey, 34.2% counted the number of platelets remaining in plasma. As for plasma separation, the facilities that only know the number of revolutions per minute (rpm) were 30.5%, and the facilities where separation lacked centrifugal force were 36.6%. Specimen conservation before coagulation studies was consigned to an outside company by 83.3% of the facilities. In a conservative situation, whole blood conservation is generally carried out. The type of facilities might influence the test results when storage temperature and time are considered. Cold-induced activation may occur owing to cold storage. After blood sampling, immediate plasma skimming is necessary. However, rapid plasma skimming is difficult, and the presentation of a consensus for the conservation by outside trust examination is awaited. Among the facilities surveyed, 88.4% answered that standardization is needed, but the degree of consensus recognition was low (18.3%). We will plan a workshop in the future and try to reach a consensus on the standardization of the handling of specimens for coagulation studies.
