One 5 mL red top tube. Also acceptable: One 4 mL lavender top tube (EDTA) or one 4 mL green top tube (heparin). NOTE: Separator gel tubes may NOT be used as lidocaine may be extracted by the gel.
Handling:
Centrifuge within 2 hours of collection and separate into a plastic vial. Refrigerate.
Stability:
6 hours ambient, 7 days refrigerated, or 1 year frozen.
Standard Volume:
0.5 mL serum or plasma.
Minimum Volume:
150 µL serum or plasma.
Transport:
Refrigerated.
Rejection Criteria:
Use of a gel barrier tube; more than 2 hours between collection and centrifugation.