Physician Office Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Preferred:

Serum

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

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

Transport Temperature:  Ambient

Collection Instructions:  Allow specimen to clot for approximately 10 minutes, spin down, and send entire tube to laboratory. If there is a delay in transport of >24 hours, send specimen refrigerated. 

Alternate:

Plasma

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

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

Transport Temperature:  Ambient

Collection Instructions:  Spin down immediately and send entire tube to laboratory. If there is a delay in transport of >24 hours, send specimen refrigerated.

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