Medical professionals must take special care during the blood collection process.
The process itself consists of numerous steps which must be meticulously followed. One of these is the storage of blood samples prior to testing.
Negligence at this stage risks compromising the sample and inaccurate results being delivered to patients.
This article will examine the conditions which preserve the integrity of blood samples, specifically how long can blood samples be stored before testing.
Furthermore, how failure to maintain these standards can be detrimental to patients.
Conditions for storing blood samples before testing
Under ideal circumstances, blood samples are retrieved and analysed within the span of several hours, eliminating concerns surrounding shelf life.
This isn’t always possible, hence the need to consider storage options.
How long can blood samples be stored before testing is determined by the type of tests to be conducted, and which components of the specimen will undergo testing.
Therefore, the ideal storage time before testing can range between less than 24 hours to up to several days.
Temperature also plays a role in how long can blood samples be stored before testing.
Optimal conditions for refrigerating blood samples are between 2°C and 8°C, for short-term storage.
Long-term storage would require freezing facilities below -10°C.
Another important storage condition which can affect how long can blood samples be stored before testing is light exposure.
Blood samples should be exposed to as little light as possible prior to testing, especially direct sunlight.
Light exposure can degrade the sample, which in turn affects the results when the blood sample undergoes testing.
Effects of improper storage of blood samples
The purpose of blood collection is to deliver results to patients.
These results are crucial to their medical treatment. Therefore, it’s always important to maintain storage standards.
In the case of blood sample storage, and how long can blood samples be stored before testing, storing samples beyond the recommended time or under
substandard conditions (which can expediate the degradation process) will affect the quality of the specimen.
Blood sample deterioration can result in decreased white blood cells, broken down red blood cells, or blood clotting.
Depending on the test to be conducted on the specimen, changes that occur during the storage process (and prior to testing) can have a significant effect on the results delivered to the patient.
They can be subjected to misdiagnoses, incorrect dosages, or inaccurate treatment options based on unreliable results.
Therefore, the question of how long can blood samples be stored before testing can have a larger effect on treatment options and the overall health of patients.
Working in the medical or scientific field requires the upkeep of certain standards, for the accuracy of results and the overall safety of patients.
And ensuring the best conditions for blood sample storage is a crucial aspect of that mission.
Contact us today to learn how Sample360 can optimise your organisation’s sample storage standards.
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