Specimen Requirements

Serum

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, phlebotomist’s initials, and as serum. Spin down and send 1 mL of serum refrigerated. 

Specimen stability:

8 hours at room temperature

2 days refrigerated at 2-8°C

Freeze at ≤ -20°C for longer storage

Minimum volume:    

1 mL

Specimen rejection criteria:

Hemolyzed specimens are not acceptable.