Collection Instructions

Specimen Collection: Blood

Container(s): EDTA Lavender Tube

Preferred Volume to Collect: 3 mL

Minimum Volume to Collect: 2 mL

Neonate Volume to Collect: 2 mL

Capillary collect ok? No

Microtainer acceptable: No

Suggested Collection Instructions:

1. Collect midmorning after the patient has been sitting, standing, or walking for at least 2 hours.
2. Allow patient to sit 5-15 minutes prior to the draw.
3. Avoid fist clenching and wait at least 5 seconds after the tourniquet release (if used) to insert the needle.
4. Collect slowly with a syringe and needle. 
5. Preferably do not use a Vacutainer to minimize the risk of spuriously raising potassium.
6. Collect blood carefully, avoiding stasis and hemolysis.
7. Invert tube gently 8 to 10 times.
8. Maintain sample in Lavender EDTA at room temperature (ambient), never refrigerate.
9. Specimen should be processed (aliquoted) within 30 minutes. See Processing Instructions below. Aliquot should be frozen.

Processing Instructions (Laboratory, Outpatient or Off-site collection)

• Processed Specimen: Plasma
• Centrifuge/Spin: Yes
• Aliquot: Yes
• Processed Minimum Volume: 1 mL

• Processing Instructions:

  • Centrifuge after collection.
  • Reject if plasma is hemolyzed.
  • Within 30 minutes aliquot plasma into a plastic transport tube and freeze immediately.
• Transport Temperature: Frozen