Specimen Requirements

Specimen Collection: Blood

Container(s): Gray Top (Potassium Oxalate and Sodium Fluoride)

• Also acceptable: Light Green Top (Lithium Heparin Gel) OR 5.0 mL Gold Top (Serum Separator-SST Gel)
• Minimum Volume to Collect: 1.0 mL
• Neonate Volume to Collect: 0.5 mL
• Capillary collect ok? Yes
• Microtainer acceptable: Yes

Collection Instructions:

• Fasting specimen required
• After collection, gently invert tube 8-10 times.
• Gray top whole blood is preferred specimen type
• If collecting green or gold top:
  • Specimen should be processed within 2 hours – See Processing Instructions.
  • Processed Specimen: Plasma or Serum
  • Centrifuge/Spin: Yes
  • Aliquot: Yes
  • Processing Instructions:
    • Gold Tube/Serum: Allow blood to clot for 30 minutes in a vertical position and centrifuge within 2 hours.
    • Green Tube/Plasma: Centrifuge after collection.
    • Minimum plasma/serum volume: 0.5 mL

Transport Temperature: Refrigerated

Lab Central Instructions:

• Centrifuge Gray-top tubes before delivery to the appropriate testing station.