After the surgery, the specimen outdates after the next 3 full days ( or our time limit of ten full days from the draw date if earlier). If the patient is still in house and the specimen outdates, do you use another armband number (new armband) or the same armband number? We have always used the same armband number because our LIS (HCLL) will not allow testing on an expired specimen, but will allow testing on a new specimen with the same armband #. We do this so we don't have to re-XM on a new specimen when the older specimen is still indated (For example on the tenth full day).