One 7.5 mL serum separator tube (SST). Also acceptable: One 5 mL red top tube, 4 mL green top tube (heparin), or one 4 mL lavender top tube (EDTA). Note last dose date and time.
Handling:
Allow to clot, centrifuge and separate serum or plasma from cells within 2 hours. Freeze if specimen cannot be assayed within 48 hours.
Stability:
48 hours refrigerated.
Standard Volume:
0.5 mL serum or plasma.
Minimum Volume:
150 uL serum or plasma.
Transport:
Refrigerated, or frozen on dry ice.
Rejection Criteria:
Specimen frozen/thawed more than once; refrigerated specimen received in laboratory more than 48 hours after collection.