Physician Office Specimen Requirements

Blood, plasma, and serum are required for this test.

Blood for CBC

Specimen must arrive within ≤24 hours of draw.

Container/Tube:  Lavender-top (EDTA) tube(s) - No other anticoagulant is acceptable.

Specimen:  5 mL (minimum volume: 0.5 mL) of EDTA whole blood

Transport temperature:  Ambient

Collection Instructions:  Invert 8 times to mix blood.

Plasma for Albumin; Alkaline Phosphatase; ALT/SGPT; AST/SGOT; Bilirubin, Total; BUN; Calcium; Chloride; CO₂; Creatinine with GFR; Glucose; Potassium; Protein, Total; and Sodium

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

Specimen:  2 mL (minimum volume:  1 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 >8 hours, send specimen refrigerated.

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

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

Specimen:  2 mL (minimum volume:  1 mL) of serum
Transport Temperature:  Ambient

Collection Instructions:  Allow specimen to clot for approximately 10 minutes and spin down. If drawing gold-top serum gel tube, send entire tube to laboratory.  If there is a delay in transport of >48 hours, send specimen frozen.

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