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How long should a tube be pre-warmed in an incubator prior to collecting a warmed specimen, such as Cold Agglutinins?

User Richardtz
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Final answer:

Laboratory standard practices typically recommend a pre-warming period of 30-60 minutes at 37°C in an incubator for tests requiring temperature control, such as Cold Agglutinins.

Step-by-step explanation:

When collecting a specimen for tests, such as Cold Agglutinins, it is crucial to pre-warm the tubes to match the body's temperature to prevent the formation of artifacts caused by cold temperatures affecting the specimen. The recommended pre-warming time in an incubator is not explicitly noted in the provided references. However, standard laboratory practices for the warming of tubes typically suggest a pre-warming period of 30-60 minutes at 37°C, which is close to body temperature, to ensure proper specimen integrity. This would be particularly important when dealing with tests that require precise temperature control, like those for Cold Agglutinins, where red blood cells may clump together (agglutinate) at lower temperatures.

User Zef Hemel
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