Evaluation of an abbreviated centrifugation protocol for chemistry testing

Abstract

Background: Processing blood specimens when they arrive in the laboratory is a necessary step for performing most chemistry tests that adds significantly to the total turnaround time (TAT). Methods: We investigated the analytical effects of an abbreviated 4-minute centrifugation on common analytes. We also assessed the effects of different centrifugation times on the TAT of results. Results: No significant differences in analytical accuracy or precision were observed when centrifugation time was reduced. Reduced centrifugation time resulted in significant improvements in TAT, with a median TAT for STAT results decreasing from 38 minutes to 28 minutes. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that a shorter centrfugation time does not adversely affect the analytical accuracy or precision of a variety of assays. Furthermore, marked reductions in the TAT of chemistry results are achieved by using a shorter centrifugation time. © by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).