Specimen Requirements

Collection Instructions:

1. Serum and Plasma gel tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.

2. Red-top tubes should be centrifuged and aliquoted within 2 hours of collection.

Due to interference, patients receiving high doses of biotin (>5 mg/day) should wait at least 8 hours after dose before having blood drawn.

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Preferred:

Serum

Draw blood in a gold-top or a speckled-top serum gel tube(s). Spin down and send 1 mL of serum refrigerated. Specimen for a trough level should be drawn 8 hours after completion of infusion of an intravenous dose or 12 hours after an oral dose.

Note:  1. Plain, red-top tube(s) is also acceptable.

2. Patients receiving therapy with mouse monoclonal antibodies may have erroneous results.

3. Indicate serum on request form.

4. Label specimen appropriately (serum).

Alternate (Preferred for VWH Lab):

Plasma

Draw blood in a mint green-top (heparin) gel tube(s). Spin down and send 1 mL of heparinized plasma refrigerated. Specimen for a trough level should be drawn 8 hours after completion of infusion of an intravenous dose or 12 hours after an oral dose.

Note: 

1. Patients receiving therapy with mouse monoclonal antibodies may have erroneous results.

2. Indicate plasma on request form.

3. Label specimen appropriately (plasma).

VWH Lab: 

4. Tubes of blood are to be kept closed at all times and in a vertical position. It is recommended that the serum or plasma be physically separated from contact with cells within two hours from the time of collection.

5. Separated serum or plasma should not remain at room temperature longer than 8 hours. If assays are not completed within 8 hours, serum or plasma should be stored at +2°C to +8°C. Refrigerated samples are stable for 48 hrs. 

Roche Specimen Stability Information