Random glucose can be collected any time of day without regard to time of last meal. Collect one 7.5 mL serum separator tube (SST), one 4 mL green top heparanized plasma separator tube (PST), or one 2 mL grey top tube (potassium oxalate/sodium fluoride) tube.
Handling:
Centrifuge and separate serum or plasma from cells immediately. Specimens drawn in serum or plasma separator tubes can be transported in the original tube after centrifugation. Refrigerate for transport.
Stability:
24 hours ambient, 6 days refrigerated, or indefinitely frozen.
Random Plasma Glucose Interpretive Guidelines (<8 hours fasting):
Random Plasma Glucose Reference Range
70-130 mg/dL
Positive Random Plasma Glucose Screen*
≥ 160 mg/dL
Provisional Diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus*
≥ 200 mg/dL and symptoms of DM
*Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (DM) requires repeat testing (fasting glucose or 2 hour OGTT) on another day. Fasting is defined as no caloric intake for at least 8 hours but not longer than 16 hours.