1-7 days after setup at PeaceHealth Laboratories’ reference lab
CPT Code:
82180-90
Specimen Collection Details
Collection:
One 10 mL green top tube (heparin). Fasting specimen preferred. Centrifuge immediately. Follow transport instructions carefully.
Handling:
Centrifuge and separate plasma immediately. Add 2 mL heparinized plasma to each of two ARUP tubes containing 40 mg oxalic acid, available from Client Services. Mix and freeze. Critical frozen. Adequate preservation is 1 mL plasma per 20 mg oxalic acid. If other tests are ordered, send separate specimen for this test.
Stability:
2 months frozen with preservation. Specimen unstable ambient or refrigerated .
Standard Volume:
4 mL plasma.
Minimum Volume:
2 mL plasma.
Transport:
Frozen on dry ice.
Comments:
Vitamin C concentrations between 0.2 and 0.4 mg/dL indicate risk of deficiency. Concentrations less than 0.2 mg/dL are consistent with deficiency.
Rejection Criteria:
Ambient, refrigerated, or specimen not preserved with oxalic acid; glass container; serum or hemolyzed plasma.