Specimen Requirements

Serum

Draw blood in a gold-top (serum separator) gel tube or a red-top (no additive) tube 8 to 12 hours after last dose or just prior to morning dose. Label the specimen with the patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and time of draw, the phlebotomist’s initials and as serum. Spin down and send 1 mL of serum refrigerated. 

Specimen stability:   

24 hours at room temperature

7 days refrigerated at 2-8°C

6 months when frozen at ≤ -20°C 

Minimum volume:    
1 mL

Specimen rejection criteria:

Lipemic specimens are not acceptable.