One 7.5 mL serum separator tube (SST). Also acceptable: One 4 mL light green top tube (heparin) or one 4.5 mL plasma separator tube (PST).
Handling:
Centrifuge SST or PST within 2 hours and transport in original tube. Centrifuge heparin tube, separate plasma from cells and pour into a plastic vial. Refrigerate. Freeze if specimen cannot be assayed within 48 hours. Allow no more than one freeze/thaw cycle.
Stability:
48 hours refrigerated.
Standard Volume:
0.5 mL serum or plasma.
Minimum Volume:
150 µL serum or plasma.
Transport:
Refrigerated, or if frozen, on dry ice.
Rejection Criteria:
Refrigerated specimen received in laboratory more than 48 hours after collection; specimen frozen and thawed more than once.