Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Riverside Inpatients or Riverside Campus draw sites:

Draw a plain red-top tube and send unprocessed blood promptly at ambient temperature, refrigerated if there is a delay. 

Note:

1. This assay requires its own specimen.

2. Gross hemolysis, icterus, and lipemia may affect results.

3. Label specimen appropriately

Outpatients/Outreach Clients

Plasma-Frozen

Draw a red-top tube. Spin down, remove serum and place 1 mL in plastic vial. (Glass vial is not acceptable.) Pour-off vial should be no more than 2/3 full. Send specimen frozen.

Note:

1. This assay requires its own specimen..

2. Gross hemolysis, icterus, and lipemia may affect results.

3. Label specimen appropriately (serum).

Serum that cannot be tested immediately should be stored in a 2-8 C for no longer than 48 hours. Samples frozen at -20 C or below remain in good condition for several years but freeze/thaw cycles should be avoided.  Serum should be separated from red cells when stored or shipped.