Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type:  Whole blood

Container/Tube: QuantiFERON (QFT) TB Gold 4 Tube Kit

Specimen Volume: Collect 1 mL of blood into each of 4 tubes,

Tubes may fill slowly. The use of a syringe may ensure correct blood volume. Hold tube on needle for 2-3 seconds after flow ceases. When the tube is upright, blood must be within the black indicator line on the label. (Figure 1)

(Figure 1)

If using butterfly collection device: first collect other required tubes or prime the tubing with a “waste” tube to remove the air and then proceed with collecting the 4 QuantiFERON tubes.

The QuantiFERON tubes are manufactured to draw 1 mL of blood, the black indicator line indicates a range of 0.8 to 1.2 mL. If the level of blood is outside of the black indicator line, another blood specimen must be collected. Over- or under-filling tubes may lead to erroneous results.

Specimens with volumes outside of the black indicator line will be rejected.

Draw order of tubes is as follows:

1. Nil control (grey)

2. TB1-Antigen (green)

3. TB2-Antigen (yellow)

4. Mitogen Control (purple)

Immediately after filling, shake the tubes firmly 10 times (enough to ensure the inner surface of each tube is coated in blood) to solubilize antigens on the tube walls.

Caution: Over-energetic shaking may cause gel disruption and could lead to aberrant results.

Label tubes appropriately. The label should be placed below colored QuantiFERON band so the blood volume and black indicator lines are visible on all 4 collection tubes. (Figure 2)

(Figure 2)

Unacceptable Samples:

• Insufficiently-Filled Sample Tube (Below Indicated Fill Line)
• Overly-Filled Sample Tube (Above Indicated Fill Line)

Volume:

0.8-1.2 mL Per QFT-Plus Blood Collection Tube