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Plasma Hemoglobin (PLHB), Blood (Referred Out) - Saskatoon

Discipline

Biochemistry

Overview

Description

Test ordering requirements

Forms required

Alias

  •  Plasma free hemoglobin

Specimen Information

Specimen types accepted

  • Plasma

Specimen collection container

Collection procedure

  • Must be processed within 30 minutes of collection

  • Separate from cells as soon as possible by centrifuging for 10 minutes; minimum 909 rcf (2200 rpm in a ST16 TX-400 with 75003181 rotor). Aliquot plasma supernatant in new tube and centrifuge again for 10 minutes; Aliquot plasma supernatant in new tube for referral.

  •  Send specimen to SPH on a cool pack. Must be refrigerated upon receipt to SPH.

  • Ship to referral lab using a Saf-T-Pak® STP-210 Category B Ambient Shipping Box, with sample placed on a cool pack and box stickered with "Refrigerated Samples Only DO NO FREEZE"

Required volume

  • Optimal volume: 1 Full collection tube

  • Minimum volume: 1.0 mL

(Submitting the minimum volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory/reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum volume may require a second collection. Chemistry may be able to do up to 10 tests with 0.75 mL blood.)

Transport and stability

  • Must be processed within 30 minutes of collection

  • Stable for 1 month once plasma is removed from cells and refrigerated

Rejection criteria

Testing Information

Clinical interpretation

  • Determining whether hemolysis is occurring such as from: Transfusion reaction, Mechanical fragmentation of RBCs, Relative comparison to baseline levels in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and centrifugal ventricular assist device (cVAD) patients to assess pump disruption

Performance

Days/times performed

Availability

  •  Shipped as received

Testing site

  • Referred out by St. Paul’s Hospital Laboratory to Regina General Hospital, Regina, SK

Last Updated: January 9, 2026