Specimen Requirements

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. 

Note:

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

2. Indicate serum on request form.

3. 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. 

Note:

1. Indicate plasma on request form.

2. Label specimen appropriately (plasma).

VWH Lab:

3. ISE Electrolyte Buffer reagent, ISE Electrolyte Reference reagent, CO2 Alkaline Buffer and CO2 Acid Reagent, when used in conjunction with SYNCHRON LX® System(s), UniCel® DxC 860i System(s) and SYNCHRON® Systems AQUA CAL 1 and 3, are intended for the quantitative determination of Carbon Dioxide in human serum or plasma.

4. 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 specimens are stable for 48 hrs. 

Roche Specimen Stability Information:

Stable several days refrigerated when separated from erythrocytes and stored capped tightly;

6 months frozen