Specimen Requirements

Whole Blood

Draw blood in a green-top (lithium or sodium heparin) tube. Label the specimen with the patient’s name (first and last), date of birth, date and time of draw and the phlebotomist’s initials. Specimen must be received in the laboratory within 30 minutes of collection.

Placing the specimen on ice is acceptable but not necessary if delivered in a timely fashion. Specimen must be free of excess air and the tube must be full.  

Specimen stability:

30 minutes

Minimum volume:

3.0 mL