Specimen Requirements

Serum

Draw blood in a gold-top (serum separator) gel tube or a red-top (no additive) tube. 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. Serum should be separated from clotted blood.

Specimen stability:

8 hours at room temperature

48 hours refrigerated at 2-8°C

If unable to test with in 48 hours freeze at ≤ -20°C 

Minimum volume:    

1 mL

Specimen rejection criteria:

Hemolyzed, icteric or grossly contaminated samples will not be used.