Specimen Requirements

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

Collection Instructions:

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

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

Draw blood in a gold-top serum gel tube(s) from a fasting patient (preferred).  Spin down and send 1 mL of serum refrigerated. 

Note:  A speckled-top serum gel tube (s),  a plain, red-top tube(s), lithium or sodium heparin are also acceptable.

Specimen Stability Information