Physician Office 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
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. Protect specimen from light.

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

Alternate:

Serum
Container/Tube:  Gold-top serum gel tube(s) or orange-top tube(s) - Plain, red-top tube is also acceptable.

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 drawing orange-top tube or plain, red-top tube, remove serum and place in separate plastic vial. If there is a delay in transport of >8 hours, send specimen refrigerated. Protect specimen from light.

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