Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Preferred:

Plasma

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

Specimen stability:

7 days at room temperature
4 days refrigerated at 2-8°C
42 days frozen at ≤ -20°C 

Minimum volume:

1 mL

Specimen rejection criteria:

Hemolyzed specimens are not acceptable.