The Clinical Laboratory and Standards Institute (CLSI) Recommends That All

The Clinical Laboratory and Standards Institute (CLSI) recommends that all patient specimens are delivered to the laboratory no more than 2 hours after collection to reduce preexamination variables caused by cellular action and the effects of prolonged exposure of specimens to room temperatures, such as:

A) glycolysis caused by cells' use of glucose; hemolysis and leakage of potassium from the cells into the plasma or serum; the destruction of coagulation factors from exposure to room temperatures.
B) leakage of coagulation factors into the serum or plasma by cellular metabolism; increased potassium values caused by exposure to room temperature; increased glucose values caused by cellular metabolism.
C) glycolysis caused by leakage from cells; increased levels of coagulation factors caused by prolonged exposure to room temperatures; decreased potassium levels caused by cellular metabolism.
D) glycolysis caused by exposure to room temperatures; hemolysis and leakage of coagulation factors from the cells; decreased potassium levels in the serum and plasma by cellular utilization.