Specimen Requirements

Plasma

Draw blood in a green-top (lithium heparin) tube. Specimen should be drawn immediately prior to next dose unless physician specifies otherwise. Label the 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.

Specimen stability:

24 hours at room temperature

2 days refrigerated at 2-8°C

5 months when frozen at ≤ -20°C 

Minimum volume:

1 mL