Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Preferred:

Plasma

Draw blood in a green-top (lithium heparin) tube from a fasting patient (4 hour preferred). For pediatric specimens, draw blood in a green-top (lithium heparin) MICROTAINER(S)®. Label the specimen with the patients name (first and last), date of birth, date and time of draw, the 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 from a fasting patient (4 hour preferred). Lable the specimen with the patient's name, date of birth, date and time of collection, phlebotomist'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

>7 days when frozen at ≤ -20°C 

Minimum volume:

1 mL