Blood panels (CardioMetabolic, Cholesterol Balance, etc.) via Patient Access/Small/Large kits

Boston Heart Diagnostics runs cardiometabolic blood testing. Its kits include a Patient Access Kit, which ships to the patient with one set of tubes, plus small and large office kits. [B2]

Boston Heart's blood prep sheet lists tests by tube. Examples include fibrinogen, Cholesterol Balance, HDL Map, LDL-P and HDL-P by NMR, LipoMap, Fatty Acid Balance, CoQ10, OxLDL, TMAO, insulin, HbA1c, CBC, MPO, and genotyping. [B1] Your requisition shows which tests were ordered.

1. 1

   Before the visit

   Prep

   • From Boston Heart's blood specimen prep sheet: [B1]
   • Fasting tests: nothing to eat or drink for 8 hours except water, black coffee or tea (no dairy or sugar). This applies to glucose, HOMA-IR, Beta Cell Function, Prediabetes Assessment, Fatty Acid Balance, HDL Map, Cholesterol Balance, folate, TMAO, CoQ10, OxLDL, LDL-P and HDL-P by NMR, and LipoMap.
   • TMAO: no seafood for 24 hours.
   • Fatty Acid Balance: no fish oil for 8 hours.
   • Biotin: if DHEA-S, folate, SHBG or testosterone is ordered, stop high dose biotin (over 5 mg a day) for 3 days. Check with your provider first.
2. 2

   The draw

   Draw

   • Order of draw, from Boston Heart: [B1]
   • Discard tube (no additive), only if you're using a butterfly and fibrinogen is ordered. It clears air from the tubing. Discard it.
   • Light blue (3.2% sodium citrate): fibrinogen. Fill to the fill line.
   • and 4. Red and yellow SST: most serum tests. A 3rd SST is needed when one or more serum send-outs are ordered.
   • Green lithium heparin plasma separator: any test not assigned to another tube.
   • White top with yellow ring (K2 EDTA plasma with gel): MPO.
   • and 8. Lavender K2 EDTA: HbA1c, CBC, genotyping. A 2nd tube is needed only if genetics are ordered along with a CBC or HbA1c.
   • Label every tube with the patient's full name and date of birth. Tubes with unclear labels are rejected. [B1]
3. 3

   Right after collection

   Processing

   • From Boston Heart's sheet ("RCF" is the spin force setting): [B1]
   • | Tube | Process |
   • |---|---|
   • | Light blue | Invert 4 times. Refrigerate at 2 to 8 C. |
   • | SST | Invert 8 times, clot upright 30 minutes, spin 15 min at 1800 to 2200 RCF, then refrigerate. |
   • | Green | Invert 8 times, spin immediately for 15 min at 1800 to 2200 RCF, then refrigerate. |
   • | White (MPO) | Invert 8 times, spin immediately for 15 min at 1800 to 2200 RCF, then refrigerate. |
   • | Lavender | Invert 8 times and refrigerate right away. If a CBC is ordered, put one lavender tube in the protective sleeve so it doesn't hemolyze against the ice packs. |
4. 4

   Get it to the lab

   Shipping

   • From Boston Heart: [B1]
   • Freeze the ice packs flat the day before: 2 for a small kit, 6 for a large kit.
   • Seal the tubes in the biohazard bag with the paperwork in the outside pocket.
   • Small kit: 1 frozen pack, then 1 to 2 sample bags, then the second pack. Large kit: layer packs and bags, up to 6 patients per box.
   • Call FedEx at 800-463-3339 and ask for an Express Return Pickup. Ship the same day. Samples must arrive refrigerated within 48 hours of collection.
   • Since May 2025, venous blood should not go to Framingham, MA. Check that the return label uses the Sunnyvale, CA address on the sheet.