Specimen Requirements

Draw blood in a gold-top (serum separator) gel tube. Label the specimen with the patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and time of draw and the phlebotomist’s initials.  Spin down and send 1 mL of serum refrigerated. For pediatric specimen, draw blood in 2 red-top MICROTAINER(S)®. 

Hemolyzed specimens are not acceptable.

Do not use samples that have been stored at room temperature for longer than eight (8) hours.

Specimen stability:

8 hours at room temperature when spun

48 hours at 2-8°C

Indefinitely when stored at ≤ -20°C 

Minimum volume:    1 mL