One 7.5 mL serum separator tube (SST). Also acceptable: One 5 mL red top tube.
Handling:
Allow to clot, centrifuge and separate serum from cells into a plastic vial. Do not transport in gel separator tube. Refrigerate. Freeze if specimen cannot be assayed within 48 hours. Allow no more than one freeze/thaw cycle.
Stability:
8 hours ambient, 48 hours refrigerated, or 3 months frozen.
Standard Volume:
0.5 mL serum
Minimum Volume:
150 µL serum
Transport:
Refrigerated, or frozen on dry ice.
Comments:
Progesterone is a steroid hormone which plays an important role in the preparation for, and maintenance of, pregnancy.
Rejection Criteria:
Highly icteric specimen; specimen frozen and thawed more than once.