Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Preferred:

Plasma

Draw blood in a green-top (lithium heparin) tube(s). For pediatric specimen, draw blood in a 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 1 mL of lithium heparin plasma refrigerated.

Alternate:

Serum

Draw blood in a gold-top (serum separator) gel tube. For pediatric specimens, draw blood in two red-top 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 serum. Spin down and send 1 mL of serum refrigerated. 

Specimen stability:

4 days at room temperature
5 days refrigerated at 2-8°C
6 months when frozen at ≤ -20°C

Minimum volume:

1 mL

Specimen rejection criteria:

Hemolyzed or lipemic specimen is not acceptable