One 7.5 mL serum separator tube (SST). Also acceptable: One 4 mL green top tube (heparin) or one 4.5 mL light green plasma separator tube (PST).
Handling:
Allow to clot, centrifuge SST or PST and transport refrigerated in original tube. Do not freeze. Centrifuge green top tube or lavender top tube, separate plasma and pour into a plastic vial. Refrigerate. Freeze if specimen cannot be assayed within 7 daus. Allow no more than one freeze/thaw cycle.
Stability:
8 hours ambient, 7 days refrigerated, or 1 month frozen.
Standard Volume:
0.5 mL serum or plasma.
Minimum Volume:
250 µL serum or plasma.
Transport:
Refrigerated, or frozen on dry ice.
Rejection Criteria:
EDTA; refrigerated specimen received in laboratory more than 7 days after collection; specimen frozen in original tube.
MEDICARE MAY REQUIRE A SIGNED ADVANCE BENEFICIARY NOTICE (ABN) FOR THIS TEST