Specimen Requirements

Preferred:

Plasma

Container/Tube: Light green top (lithium heparin gel) tube(s)

Specimen: 2 mL (minimum volume:  1 mL) of lithium heparin plasma
Collection Instructions: Spin down immediately and send entire tube to laboratory. If there is a delay in transport of >8 hours, send specimen refrigerated. Protect specimen from light.

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

Alternate:

Container/Tube: Gold top serum gel tube(s) or orange top tube(s) (pediatric patient:  amber MICROTAINER) - Plain red top tube is also acceptable. 

Specimen: 2 mL (minimum volume:  1 mL) of serum
Collection Instructions: Allow specimen to clot for approximately 10 minutes, spin down, remove serum, and place in separate plastic vial. If drawing gold-top serum gel tube, send entire tube to laboratory. If there is a delay in transport of >8 hours, send specimen refrigerated. If specimen is not drawn in amber MICROTAINER, wrap tube in foil to protect specimen from light.

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