ajcire Posted November 3, 2009 Report Posted November 3, 2009 Hi! I got the kit today and am a little overwhelmed. THere are 4 different vials? 2 red, 2 blue? Will they be using all of them? One of the air filled cushions is out of air... I might have one from a different package someplace but not sure... any ideas on if I need to put something else in to cushion it so it can't shake around? And can I just reuse the box it came in but swap out the form?
pixiesmommy Posted November 3, 2009 Report Posted November 3, 2009 Red is if the lab can't spin it for the serum. Blue is if they CAN spin it. They will only use 2. When you send it back, include the ice pack and the vials, along with a history of strep (or you can email this- I did.) Put the ice pack with the vials and wrap in something like an old towel or paper towel and seal in a ziplock baggie (in case it bursts in transit so it won't soak into the box, etc.) If it seems to shake around, then tuck some paper towels or bubble wrap or newspaper- whatever- in the space. We re-used the box with the new label and it was fine. Also make sure you don't overnight it on a Friday because they are out of the office and can't receive it on Saturday and it would spoil. -Manda
ajcire Posted November 3, 2009 Author Report Posted November 3, 2009 Thank you! It seems a bit less daunting a task now. I am doing it at 11:00 tomorrow and then keeping the supplies in the car and getting it set and heading right over to fed x... not taking any chances on hitting the weekend quote name='pixiesmommy' date='Nov 3 2009, 05:22 PM' post='43820'] Red is if the lab can't spin it for the serum. Blue is if they CAN spin it. They will only use 2. When you send it back, include the ice pack and the vials, along with a history of strep (or you can email this- I did.) Put the ice pack with the vials and wrap in something like an old towel or paper towel and seal in a ziplock baggie (in case it bursts in transit so it won't soak into the box, etc.) If it seems to shake around, then tuck some paper towels or bubble wrap or newspaper- whatever- in the space. We re-used the box with the new label and it was fine. Also make sure you don't overnight it on a Friday because they are out of the office and can't receive it on Saturday and it would spoil. -Manda
sf_mom Posted November 3, 2009 Report Posted November 3, 2009 Plus they say to draw 10cc to 20cc. With our younger son we sent only one vial back due to his weight and the amount of testing we were doing at time. -Wendy
bronxmom2 Posted November 3, 2009 Report Posted November 3, 2009 I took my blood draw to the Fed Ex and the clerk asked what was in the box. I said, "a blood sample" and they refused to ship it. (In fact it was only plasma, but I didn't realize that) I had to go to a different Fed Ex store 10 blocks away, where no one asked me what was in the box.
ajcire Posted November 4, 2009 Author Report Posted November 4, 2009 I took my blood draw to the Fed Ex and the clerk asked what was in the box. I said, "a blood sample" and they refused to ship it. (In fact it was only plasma, but I didn't realize that) I had to go to a different Fed Ex store 10 blocks away, where no one asked me what was in the box. Ack, what should I say is in the box if they ask me?? I don't think my office is going to spin it or whatever it is... although I have no idea.. just guessing they don't do that in the office? I'm not going to the lab. One of the peds said he would do it for me.
memom Posted November 4, 2009 Report Posted November 4, 2009 I don't know how old your child is but we drew this blood at my own office. For my 120lb child you draw both red top tubes, then spin them down if possible and transfer the serum into one of the blue top tubes and throw away the RBC's. That is how it is intented to be sent. It gets sent on frozen ice packs included. Make sure you send them so they do not get there over the weekend. Ellie
EAMom Posted November 4, 2009 Report Posted November 4, 2009 Hi! I got the kit today and am a little overwhelmed. THere are 4 different vials? 2 red, 2 blue? Will they be using all of them? One of the air filled cushions is out of air... I might have one from a different package someplace but not sure... any ideas on if I need to put something else in to cushion it so it can't shake around? And can I just reuse the box it came in but swap out the form? Red top tubes: the blood is initially put in this tube, then spun down (centrifuged). Then the serum (the cloudy white part which ends up on top) is separated from the blood cells (on the bottom). I believe the lab techician does this manually (sucks up the serum) with a pipette. Blue plastic tubes: the serum (without any red blood cells) is then tranferred into these tubes for shipping. Don't forget to put the ice packs in your freezer overnight. Take them out and put them in with the serum (in the box) just b-4 you mail it at fed-ex.
bronxmom2 Posted November 4, 2009 Report Posted November 4, 2009 I'm sorry if I scared you... just don't say "blood sample." I don't think this happened to anyone else, so I doubt if it will happen to you. good luck
peglem Posted November 4, 2009 Report Posted November 4, 2009 I'm sorry if I scared you... just don't say "blood sample."I don't think this happened to anyone else, so I doubt if it will happen to you. good luck The Fedex people asked me...I can't remember what I answered, but I mumbled it because I wasn't sure what the "right answer would be to have it sent- they took it.
EAMom Posted November 4, 2009 Report Posted November 4, 2009 I think they asked us if we had any hazardous material in the box.
ajcire Posted November 4, 2009 Author Report Posted November 4, 2009 Do you think I could just say medical information? I suspect they ask because of the nature of the overnighting of the package? or do they ask every time you ship like how the post office asks if there is anything hazardous. If they say is there anything hazardous I am guessing I should just say no... I am a horrible liar.. although I don't believe my son's blood samples to be hazardous I do know that other people might not agree.
monarchcat Posted November 4, 2009 Report Posted November 4, 2009 Here are the Fedex guidelines for shipping biological samples. I think our packaging complies? I haven't had coffee yet, so I may have missed something, but I don't think they should be refusing it. http://images.fedex.com/us/services/pdf/PK...cimens_2007.pdf
ajcire Posted November 4, 2009 Author Report Posted November 4, 2009 I am going to go read that... I was kinda thinking that a legit study probably wouldn't be asking us to ship things illegally although I confess I still don't want to have to get into what's in the box with them. Here are the Fedex guidelines for shipping biological samples. I think our packaging complies? I haven't had coffee yet, so I may have missed something, but I don't think they should be refusing it. http://images.fedex.com/us/services/pdf/PK...cimens_2007.pdf
bronxmom2 Posted November 4, 2009 Report Posted November 4, 2009 The fedex people I dealt with asked me to put it in a bag they had, into which the box with ice pack obviously wouldn't fit. I think this office was wrong... unreasonable, taking pleasure in making me suffer (I was obviously upset, I had a crying baby and an out-of-control 7yo) I agree a legit study would not have us sending things illegally.
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