Expired consumables and reagents

No. Blood collection tubes used after the manufacturer’s expiry date cannot be considered fit for purpose without appropriate validation or documented justification.

After expiry, there is no confirmation that the tube remains sterile, that the vacuum and closure system remain functional, or that any anticoagulant, preservative or additive present in the tube remains effective and stable. In forensic and anti-doping testing, where sample integrity and evidentiary reliability are critical, the use of expired tubes may compromise the validity of the sample and the defensibility of analytical results. Therefore, expired tubes should not be used unless their suitability for the specific intended purpose has been scientifically demonstrated and documented.