Specimen Requirements

Collect 0.5 mL of chilled heparinized plasma (green top tube). The blood must be collected in a pre-chilled tube containing heparin at the bedside. The sample must then be immersed immediately in an ice bath. (Other tests drawn at the same time must be drawn in their own tubes.) Return the tube on ice to processing without delay.

Plasma must be separated from cells within 2 hours of collection.