Two 7.5 mL serum separator tubes (SST). Also acceptable: Two 5 mL red top tubes.
Handling:
Allow to clot for 30-60 minutes at 20-25° C. Do not clot at 2-8° C. Centrifuge and within 1 hour separate serum into two plastic vials. For C3/C4 testing: Freeze one tube ≤ -20°C. Allow no more than one freeze/thaw cycle. For ANA testing: Refrigerate second tube at 2-8° C. Freeze ≤ -20°C if specimen cannot be tested within 7 days. Allow no more than three freeze/thaw cycles.
Stability:
C3/C4: 1 year frozen ≤ -20° C. ANA: 8 hours ambient, refrigerated at 2-8° C, or frozen for long-term storage.
Standard Volume:
1 mL serum for C3/C4 testing and 1 mL serum for ANA testing
Minimum Volume:
0.5 mL serum for C3/C4 testing and 0.5 mL serum for ANA testing
Transport:
C3/C4: Frozen on dry ice. ANA: Refrigerate, or frozen on dry ice.
Comments:
ANA with titer ≥ 1:320 will have ANA profile performed. Additional charges will be added for the added testing.
Rejection Criteria:
C3/C4: Plasma; gross lipemia; hemolysis; contaminated specimen; specimen allowed to clot at 2-8° C; specimen frozen/thawed more than once. ANA: Plasma; grossly lipemic, hemolytic, or contaminated specimen; specimen received in laboratory more than 8 hours ambient, or 7 days refrigerated, after collection. Specimen frozen/thawed more than 3 times.