Specimen Requirements

Preferred Collection Container: 

Lavender (EDTA) AND SST (Serum Separator)

Collection Information: 

Collect blood in a Lavender (EDTA) AND SST (Serum Separator). Do not collect in refrigerated tubes.

Patient Preparation:
Blood should be obtained in seated position in the morning without venous stasis (release tourniquet after venipuncture and wait at least 5 seconds before withdrawing blood). If the patient is supine, ensure that the patient is in this position for at least 30 minutes prior to collection

Transport Information: 

Serum Separator: Centrifuge and aliquot 1.0 mL of serum to a plastic transport vial. Send frozen.
Lavender EDTA: Centrifuge and aliquot 2.0 mL of EDTA plasma to a plastic transport vial. Send frozen. CRITICAL FROZEN.
Storage at refrigerated temperatures may cause falsely elevated results. Do not collect in refrigerated tubes. Process blood at room temperature and centrifuge tubes in a nonrefrigerated centrifuge.

Minimum Sample Volume: 

Serum: 0.5 mL (approximately 1.0 mL of whole blood based upon a normal patient hematocrit)
EDTA Plasma: 1.2 mL (approximately 2.4 mL of whole blood based upon a normal patient hematocrit)

Remarks: 

Both specimens should be collected and submitted together for testing.