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Arrange Courier Before Drawing Blood
Optimally, blood should arrive within 48 hours after being drawn. Laboratories often find it most convenient to arrange the courier before drawing the blood, so it can be sent as soon as possible.
Send the Right Amount of Blood
MELISA® needs at least 3.6ml of blood for every component of metal tested
- For up to 5 METALS, send 18ml of blood. This means 4 x 4.5ml tubes or 2 x 9 ml tubes.
- For 5 to 10 METALS, send 36ml of blood. This means 8 x 4.5ml tubes or 4 x 9 ml tubes.
- For 10 to 15 METALS, send 54ml of blood. This means 12 x 4.5ml tubes or 6 x 9 ml tubes.
- For 15 to 20 METALS, send 72ml of blood. This means 16 x 4.5ml tubes or 8 x 9 ml tubes.
If you are testing children, fewer tubes are needed because children have a denser lymphocyte count. Please contact us for more details.
Use Citrate Tubes
MELISA® blood must be sent in a "citrate tube". This is a Becton-Dickinson or Greiner vacutainer tube with sodium citrate, sterile interior and blue lid. They can be provided from the MELISA® Medica Foundation on request.
Do Not Centriguge, Do Not Chill
The blood will be centrifuged on arrival at the lab. It must be sent a room temperature; chilled blood cannot be used for MELISA®.
Mark The Envelope Correctly
Put the tubes in a small box. Include enough padding to make sure they will not break. On the parcel, label two instructions. "Keep at room temperature - do not chill". Also indicate that the parcel should be delivered immediately ("Urgent delivery").
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