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.  Avoid hemolysis. 

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. Avoid hemolysis. 

Note:

1. Indicate plasma on request form.

2. Label specimen appropriately (plasma).

VWH Lab:

3. Tubes of blood are to be kept closed at all times and in a vertical position. It is recommended that the serum or plasma be physically separated from contact with cells within two hours from the time of collection.

4. Stability of CK activity in sera is not well defined, but is generally poor. Specimens should be assayed as soon after collection as possible since activity loss may occur after specimens have been stored for 4 hours at room temperature, 8 to 12 hours refrigerated. Refrigerated specimens are stable for 48 hrs. 

Roche Specimen Stability Information