Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 24 hours of draw.

Draw a full, light blue-top (3.2% sodium citrate) tube. Invert 6 times to mix blood. Label specimen with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and time of draw, and phlebotomist’s initials.

Specimens for routine assays are acceptable in an unopened tube kept at 2-24°C for up to 24 hours, centrifuged or uncentrifuged. If there is a delay in transport of ≥24 hours, send plasma frozen in plastic vial.

The following specimens will rejected:

Clotted or hemolyzed specimens

Hematocrit >55%

Incorrect anticoagulant

Overfilled or underfilled tube