Specimen Requirement

Preferred Collection Container: 

SST (Serum Separator)

Also Acceptable Collection Container: 

Lavender (EDTA)
Pink (K2EDTA)
Green No Gel (Lithium Heparin)

Collection Information: 

Collect blood in a serum separator tube. Also acceptable: lavender (K2EDTA or K3EDTA), pink (K2EDTA) or Green Lithium Heparin.

Transport Information: 

Centrifuge and aliquot 1.0 mL serum to a plastic transport tube. Send refrigerated.

Minimum Sample Volume: 

0.5 mL of serum (approximately 1.0 mL of whole blood based upon a normal patient hematocrit)

Unacceptable Conditions: 

Grossly hemolyzed specimens.

Stability

Refrigerated Stability: 

14 days - Preferred

Frozen Stability: 

2 years

Ambient Stability: 

8 days