Can the blood sample be placed flat after collection? Must it be stored upright?

Whether blood samples should be laid flat or upright after collection depends on the type of sample and the subsequent analysis requirements.

 

1. Laying Flat

(1) After Collection: Generally, blood samples should be kept at room temperature and should avoid vigorous shaking or agitation shortly after collection. If the blood sample is intended for routine blood tests or general biochemical analysis, it is typically placed directly into a test tube and laid flat to prevent damage to blood cells due to excessive shaking.

(2) Separating Plasma or Serum: If plasma or serum needs to be separated (such as for liver function, kidney function, or diabetes-related tests), the blood sample should be laid flat at room temperature for a certain time (usually 20-30 minutes) to allow blood clot formation, after which serum or plasma can be separated via centrifugation.

 

2. Upright Storage

(1) In some cases, especially for blood samples treated with certain anticoagulants (such as EDTA, heparin, etc.), laboratories may require the samples to be stored upright to prevent prolonged contact between the anticoagulant and blood components, which could lead to incomplete separation or interference with results.

(2) A common reason for storing blood samples upright is to prevent the coagulated blood from settling directly at the bottom of the test tube. This is particularly useful when separating serum or plasma, as upright storage helps prevent sample contamination.

 

3. Storage Recommendations

(1) Short-term Storage: For short-term storage (within a few hours), there is usually little difference between laying flat or upright, but laboratory standard operating procedures should still be followed.

(2) Long-term Storage: If samples need to be stored for a longer period, they are typically refrigerated or frozen, and should generally be stored upright to prevent sedimentation affecting the analysis results.

 

In summary, whether to lay flat or store upright after collection is primarily based on the requirements of subsequent analysis. Specific operations should follow the laboratory's standard operating procedures (SOPs) or the requirements of the test being conducted.

 

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