Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Preferred:

Plasma

Draw blood in a mint green-top (Lithium Heparin) gel tube(s). Spin down and send the entire spun tube for testing.  Do not open the tube and expose the sample to air.  Avoid hemolysis.

Also acceptable: grey-top (potassium oxalate/sodium fluoride) tube

Note:  1. Do not use alcohol or other volatile disinfectants to cleanse venipuncture site. Use aqueous ZEPHIRAN®, aqueous merthiolate, or povidone-iodine instead.

2. N-propanol and N-butanol will interfere with the assay.

3. Indicate plasma on request form.

4. Label specimen appropriately (plasma).

NOTE: Lithium Heparin and/or Sodium Heparin may be used on the Grady and the Marion Campus

Alternate:

Serum

Draw blood in a gold-top serum gel tube(s). Spin down and send the entire spun tube for testing.  Do not open and expose serum to air.  Avoid hemolysis.

Note:

1. Do not use alcohol or other volatile disinfectants to cleanse venipuncture site. Use aqueous ZEPHIRAN®, aqueous merthiolate, or povidone-iodine instead.

2. N-propanol and N-butanol will interfere with the assay.

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

3. Indicate serum on request form.

4. Label specimen appropriately (serum).

Specimen Stability Information