One 7.5 mL serum separator tube (SST). Also acceptable: One 4 mL green top tube (heparin) or one 4.5 mL light green plasma separator tube (PST).
Handling:
Centrifuge SST or PST within 2 hours of collection and transport in original tube. Heparin must be centrifuged and plasma separated into a plastic vial within 2 hours of collection.
Stability:
24 hours refrigerated. Freeze at -10° C or below for 14 days if specimen will not be assayed within 24 hours. Unstable ambient.
Standard Volume:
1 mL serum or plasma.
Minimum Volume:
200 µL serum or plasma.
Transport:
Refrigerated, or frozen on dry ice.
Rejection Criteria:
Refrigerated specimen received in laboratory more than 24 hours after collection.