SMILE
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD USA
Centrifuge Calibration Verification for Platelet Poor Plasma- Guidelines
Guideline Number
Equ12-04-G
Effective Date
20-Oct-08
Page
1 of 1
Centrifuge Calibration Verification
Supersedes
New
Review by
Review date
9-Feb-12
Centrifuge Calibration Verification for
Platelet Poor Plasma
Subject
Heidi Hanes
SMILE Comments: This document is provided as an example only. It must be revised to
accurately reflect your lab’s specific processes and/or specific protocol requirements. Users are
directed to countercheck facts when considering their use in other applications. If you have any
questions contact SMILE.
CAP Accreditation Checklist:
1. Limited service laboratory checklist manual, Coagulation Specimen Handling.
Background Information:
Plasma used for coagulation studies must be platelet-poor. Centrifuge speed and
duration must be established by the laboratory to ensure platelet counts are less than
10,000/uL. These parameters should be validated every six months or after repair or
preventive maintenance of the centrifuge.
Resources
1. College of American Pathologists (CAP) 2006. Commission on Laboratory
Accreditation, Laboratory Accreditation Program; Limited Service Laboratory
Checklist manual (Revised 2007).
2. CLSI H21-A5 Collection, Transport, and Processing of Blood Specimens for
Testing Plasma-Based Coagulation Assays, Vol. 28, No 5, fifth Edition, January
2008.
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SMILE
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD USA
Centrifuge Calibration Verification for Platelet Poor Plasma
Heidi Hanes, BS, MT, (ASCP)
Author(s), Name SH
& Title
QA/QC International Coordinator
Document
Number
Effective Date
Equ12-04-SOP
20-Oct-08
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Signature
Date
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Signature
Date
Approved
By
SOP
Annual
Review
Revision
History
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SMILE
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD USA
I acknowledge that I have read, understand and agree to follow this SOP
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SMILE
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD USA
Centrifuge Calibration Verification for Platelet Poor Plasma
Purpose
This procedure provides instructions and guidelines for validation of centrifuge time and
speed for producing platelet-poor plasma for coagulation testing.
Analytic Procedure
Specimen Information: N/A
Reagents/Media: N/A
Precautions:
Standard precautions should be used while working with any instrument or specimen,
refer to laboratory safety procedure (enter the number of your lab’s Safety SOP).
Supplies/Equipment
1. Centrifuge
2. Citrated plasma specimens (can be a previously sampled tube or newly drawn at
the correct filling content (1:9 ratio of sodium citrate to blood)
3. Tube Size – Use the Sodium citrate (blue-top) tube that is standard for your
institution.
4. Hematology instrument to read platelet counts
Centrifuge Verification Maintenance:
(Note: Procedure can be written in regular step by step format, the use of table
form is not necessary.)
Step
Action
1
 Centrifuges used in the laboratory are to be considered as contaminated
and should only be handled with gloves and other personal protective
equipment and/or thoroughly disinfected before calibration verification.
2

5
If specimens were previously spun mix tubes to disperse cells to
simulate un-spun patient blood.
 Spin at least two citrated specimens at a time in order to balance the
centrifuge.
 After centrifugation, carefully test the upper portion of the plasma on the
hematology instrument.
 Record platelet value on Centrifuge Plasma Check Log. (Appendix B)
6

3
4
7
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Repeat steps 2 through 4 two more times.
If
Then
Platelets <10,000/uL Document time, speed, and average platelet
value on Centrifuge daily log.(Appendix A)
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SMILE
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD USA
Platelets >10,000/uL
8


Change time or speed until platelet
results are less than 10,000/uL.
 Document time, speed and average
platelet value on Centrifuge Preventative
log. (Appendix A)
Repeat steps 1 though 6 for all centrifuges used for spinning coagulation
specimens.
Interpretation of Results:
All platelets results should be under 10,000/uL. Speed and/or timing should be adjusted
until the desired platelet result is obtained. Centrifuge Verification for platelet poor
plasma should be performed every six months or after major repairs.
References:
1.
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, How to Meet
the Most Frequently Cited Laboratory Standards1996, Oakbrook Terrace, IL.
2. CLSI H21-A5 Collection, Transport, and Processing of Blood Specimens for
Testing Plasma-Based Coagulation Assays, Vol. 28, No 5, fifth Edition, January
2008.
Appendices
A.
Appendix A - Example of Centrifuge Preventative Maintenance/Quality
Control Log
B.
Appendix B – Example of Centrifuge Plasma Check Log.
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