Use soap and water to cleanse the draw site; do not use alcohol. Preferred: One 2 mL grey top tube (potassium oxalate/sodium fluoride). Also acceptable, but less desirable: One 7.5 mL serum separator tube (SST) or one 4.5 mL light green top plasma separator tube (PST). Tubes collected for this test should be full and remain stoppered.
Handling:
Transport specimen drawn in grey top tube in original tube. Keep tightly capped. Centrifuge SST or PST within 2 hours and transport in original tube.
Stability:
3 hours ambient or 7 days refrigerated.
Standard Volume:
2 mL plasma or serum.
Minimum Volume:
0.5 mL plasma or serum.
Transport:
Refrigerated.
Rejection Criteria:
Mercuric chloride as a preservative; specimen that has been opened.