Specimen Requirements

Preferred:

Plasma

Container/Tube: Light green-top (lithium heparin gel) tube(s) - Grey-top (potassium oxalate/sodium fluoride) tube or lavender-top (EDTA) tube is also acceptable.

Specimen: 2 mL (minimum volume:  0.5 mL) of lithium heparin plasma

Transport Temperature: Ambient

Collection Instructions: Use a non-alcohol (ie, povidone iodine) to cleanse venipuncture site. Due to the volatile nature of alcohol, specimen tube should be completely filled and capped to avoid evaporative loss to the atmosphere. Spin down immediately and send entire tube to laboratory. If there is a delay in transport of >2 days, send specimen refrigerated in ≤14 days.

Note: 1. Indicate plasma on request form.
2. Label specimen appropriately (plasma).

Alternate:

Serum

Container/Tube: Gold-top serum gel tube(s)

Specimen: 2 mL (minimum volume:  0.5 mL) of serum

Transport Temperature: Ambient

Collection Instructions: Use a non-alcohol (ie, povidone iodine) to cleanse venipuncture site. Due to the volatile nature of alcohol, specimen tube should be completely filled and capped to avoid evaporative loss to the atmosphere. Allow specimen to clot for approximately 10 minutes, spin down, and send entire tube to laboratory. If there is a delay in transport of >2 days, send specimen refrigerated in ≤14 days.

Note: 1. Indicate serum on request form.
2. Label specimen appropriately (serum).