Specimen Requirements

Call Transfusion Services at 410-543-7386 ext. 7395 and state “I have a life-threatening emergency” or page 1499.

Specimen can only be drawn by Peninsula Regional Medical Center staff.

Draw specimen as follows:
1. A Transfusion Services recipient red armband must be placed on patient after proper and positive identification and prior to specimen draw. See Transfusion Services Recipient Armbands in Transfusion Services in Special Instructions for additional details.

2. Draw blood in a large, pink-top K₂ EDTA tube, and send 6 mL of K₂ EDTA whole blood.

3. Clotted or hemolyzed specimen is not acceptable.

4. Label specimen with the 4-digit Transfusion Services red armband number, patient's first and last name, medical record number, time of collection and phlebotomist’s initials.
5. Patient identification armband and the Transfusion Services recipient red armband must remain on patient until blood infusion is complete.

Note: Emergency transfusion tags on the units of blood issued must be properly filled out and signed by attending physician or his/her designate during transfusion.