Specimen Requirements

Morning (8 a.m.) specimen is desirable.

Serum

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

Note: 

1. Include time of draw on request form.

2. Label specimen with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and time of draw, and phlebotomist’s initials.

Specimen stability:

8 hours at room temperature

2 days refrigerated at 2-8°C

Indefinitely when frozen at ≤ -20°C 

Minimum volume:

1 mL

Specimen rejection criteria: 

Hemolyzed specimens are not acceptable.