Centrifuge within 15 minutes in a refrigerated centrifuge, if available. To transport, separate plasma into a plastic vial and keep on ice. Specimen MUST BE TESTED WITHIN 30 MINUTES or frozen immediately.
Stability:
30 minutes on ice, or 6 months frozen. Specimen unstable ambient or if thawed and refrozen.
Standard Volume:
2 mL plasma.
Minimum Volume:
0.5 mL plasma.
Transport:
Frozen. Send plasma to Laboratory on ice only if it can be tested within 30 minutes of collection.
Comments:
Minimize exposure to air. Serum cannot be used because ammonia is produced in the clotting process.
Rejection Criteria:
Serum; hemolysis; specimen not removed from cells within 15 minutes; specimen on ice longer than 30 minutes; specimen received ambient.