One 7.5 mL serum separator tube (SST). Also acceptable: One 5 mL red top tube, 4 mL green top tube (heparin), or 4.5 mL light green plasma separator tube (PST).
Handling:
Allow to clot, centrifuge and separate serum or plasma from cells within 2 hours. 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 1 month frozen at -20o C.
Standard Volume:
0.5 mL serum or plasma.
Minimum Volume:
250 µL serum or plasma.
Transport:
Refrigerated; or if frozen, on dry ice.
Rejection Criteria:
Hemolysis; specimen frozen and thawed more than once.