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.

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Preferred:

Serum

Draw blood in a gold-top serum gel tube(s) immediately prior to next dose (intravenous piggyback [IVPB] conventional dosing). Spin down and send 1 mL of serum refrigerated.

Note:

1. Date and time of draw are required on request form and specimen for processing.

2. A speckled-top serum gel tube (s) or a plain, red-top tube(s) is also acceptable.

3. Indicate serum and trough/pre-dose on request form.

4. Label specimen appropriately (serum and as trough/pre-dose).

Alternate: 

Plasma

Draw blood in a mint green-top (heparin) gel tube(s) immediately prior to next dose (intravenous piggyback [IVPB] conventional dosing). Spin down and send 1 mL of heparinized plasma refrigerated.

Note:  1. Date and time of draw are required on request form and specimen for processing.

2. Indicate plasma and trough/pre-dose on request form.

3. Label specimen appropriately (plasma and as trough/pre-dose).

Sample Stability Information:

Specimens removed from the cells, clot, or gel may be stored up to one week at 2 to 8°C.

If testing will be delayed more than one week, specimens should be stored frozen (< -10°C).