Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Preferred:

Plasma

Draw blood in a green-top (lithium heparin) tube. For pediatric patients, draw blood in a green-top (lithium heparin) MICROTAINER®. Label specimen with patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and time of draw, phlebotomist’s initials and as plasma. Spin down and send 1 mL of lithium heparin plasma refrigerated.

Alternate:

Serum

Draw blood in a gold-top (serum separater) gel tube. Label the specimen with the patient's name, date of birth, date and time of draw,the collector's initials and as serum. Spin down and send 1 mL of serum refrigerated.

Specimen stability:   
8 hours at room temperature
7 days refrigerated at 2-8°C
30 days when kept frozen at ≤ -20°C 

Minimum volume:    
500 mL

Specimen rejection criteria:

Hemolyzed specimens are not acceptable.