Specimen Requirements

Preferred Collection Container: 

Lavender (EDTA)
Clients: Submit 1mL of whole blood frozen in an amber transport tube and send the hematocrit value with the specimen.

Also Acceptable Collection Container: 

Pink (K2EDTA Blood Bank)

Collection Information: 

Collect blood in a lavender EDTA tube. Protect from light during collection and transport.

Non-hospital locations: Hematocrit must be performed and indicated on the test request form. If the patient has not received a transfusion or experienced excessive bleeding between the RBC folate draw and the hematocrit draw, any hematocrit drawn within 24 hours of the RBC folate draw is acceptable.

Transport Information: 

Protect from light during collection, storage, and shipment. Mix specimen well. Transfer 1.0 mL whole blood to a plastic amber transport tube.

Minimum Sample Volume: 

1.0 mL of whole blood

Remarks: 

CRITICAL FROZEN. Separate specimens must be submitted when multiple tests are ordered.