Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Preferred

Plasma

Draw blood in a green-top (lithium heparin) tube following an overnight (12-14 hour) fast. For pediatric specimens, draw blood in two green-top (lithium heparin) MICROTAINER(S)®. 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 plasma. Spin down and send 2 mL of lithium heparin plasma refrigerated.

Avoid exposure of specimen to atmosphere. (Do not transfer or open tube.)

Note:  

Patient must be on a stable diet for 2 weeks and not consume any alcohol for 5 days before specimen is drawn.

Alternate:

Serum

Draw blood in a serum gel tube following an overnight (12-14 hour) fast. Label the specimen with the patient's name, date of birth, date and time of draw, the phlebotomist's  initials and as serum. Spin down and send 2 mL of serum refrigerated.

Avoid exposure of specimen to atmosphere. (Do not transfer or open tube.)

Note: 

1. Glucose will drop 5.0 mg/dL to 10 mg/dL per hour in an unseparated, ambient serum gel tube.

2. Patient must be on a stable diet for 2 weeks and not consume any alcohol for 5 days before specimen is drawn.

Specimen stability:   

2 days when separated and refrigerated at 2-8°C
 

Minimum volume:    

1 mL

Specimen rejection criteria:

Hemolyzed and lipemic samples will not be accepted.