1-4 days after setup at PeaceHealth Laboratories’ reference lab.
CPT Code:
83520-90
Specimen Collection Details
Collection:
One 7.5 mL serum separator tube (SST). Also acceptable: 10 mL green top tube (lithium heparin).
Handling:
Allow to clot, centrifuge and immediately separate serum or plasma from cells and pour into a plastic vial. Freeze. Critical frozen. Allow no more than one freeze/thaw cycle. If multiple tests are ordered, submit separate specimens for those tests.
Stability:
After separation from cells: 30 minutes ambient, or 1 year frozen. Unstable refrigerated.
Standard Volume:
1 mL serum or plasma.
Minimum Volume:
300 µL serum or plasma.
Transport:
Frozen on dry ice.
Comments:
Elevated levels are seen in septic shock as well as in the CSF of meningitis and other central nervous system processes such as multiple sclerosis.
Rejection Criteria:
Heat-activated, refrigerated, or contaminated specimen.