Physician Office Specimen Requirements

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.

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

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

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

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. Visible hemolysis will result in a falsely-elevated potassium value. 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).