How long can till the blood is bad?

[nursecher]

I just started in home care and have several pt's that get lab draws. Alot of PT/INR's, CBC, trough's.......my questions is.....how long can the blood sit in my car in the blood tubes before I get it to the lab? Are there certain labs that I can preserve on ice and labs that can not go on ice? I would like to be able to at least see 2 patients before running back to the lab!! Thanks for your help!

[anticoagulationurse]

I would call the lab and find out. But our lab requires us to deliver them within 4 hours so they can be centrifuged if needed. Otherwise, the specimens themselves are always kept at our lab for 7 days before discarded in case the doc wants to add on any tests later.

[Luv2care0907]

I would think it would also have a great deal to do with where you live. Where I live, those specimens would boil certain times of the year in the car. :)