One 7.5 mL serum separator tube (SST). Also acceptable: One 5 mL red top tube.
Handling:
Allow to clot for 30 minutes to one hour at 20-25° C. Do not clot at 2-8° C. Centrifuge and separate serum from cells within one hour. Freeze immediately at -20° C. Do not allow to thaw.
Stability:
Specimen stable 1 year at -20° C.
Standard Volume:
1 mL serum.
Minimum Volume:
0.5 mL serum.
Transport:
Frozen, on dry ice.
Comments:
Complement is a group of proteins which destroy infectious agents. Measurement of these proteins aids in the diagnosis of immunologic disorders, especially those associated with deficiencies of complement components.
Rejection Criteria:
Specimen allowed to clot at 2-8° C; plasma; gross hemolysis; specimen frozen and thawed more than once.