One 7.5 mL serum separator tube (SST). Collect at least 4 mL. Also acceptable: One 4 mL green top tube (heparin). Specimen drawn between 0700 and 1200 is recommended.
Handling:
Allow to clot, centrifuge and separate serum or plasma from cells immediately into a plastic vial. Refrigerate.
Stability:
7 days refrigerated or 2 months frozen.
Standard Volume:
1 mL serum.
Minimum Volume:
0.5 mL serum.
Transport:
Refrigerated, or frozen on dry ice.
Comments:
Decreased erythropoietin concentrations with elevated hematocrit are observed in patients with polycythemia rubra vera, and with a decreased hematocrit in patients with HIV infection who are receiving AZT.
Rejection Criteria:
EDTA plasma; visible hemolysis or grossly contaminated specimen.