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). Spin down and send 1 mL of serum refrigerated. Specimen is usually drawn 2 hours post infusion or 15 minutes before dose for intravenous piggyback (IVPB) or intravenous push (IVP). For an oral dose, specimen is drawn immediately prior to next dose.

Note:

1. Patients receiving fosphenytoin should wait at least 2 hours after an intravenous administration and 4 hours after an intramuscular administration before having blood drawn.

2. Date and time of draw is required on request form and specimen for processing.

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

4. Indicate serum and if draw is pre- or post-dose on request form.
5. Label specimen appropriately (serum and as pre- or post-dose).

Roche Specimen Stability Information