Specimen Requirements

Plasma (EDTA)

Draw blood in a lavender-top (EDTA) tube. Place specimen on ice immediately after draw. Until centrifuged, keep tube stoppered and upright at all times. Centrifuge and remove plasma from red blood cells as soon as possible. Place plasma in plastic capped tube. Refrigerate specimen until delivery to testing lab. Label specimen with patient's name, date of birth, date and time of draw and the phlebotomist's initials.

Specimen stability:

DO NOT store specimen at room temperature.

Tightly capped and refrigerated specimens are stable for 48 hours refrigerated at 2-8°C.

13 weeks when frozen at ≤ -20°C

Minimum volume:

1 mL