Collection Instructions

Specimen Collection: Blood

Container(s): 6-mL Plain, royal blue-top Vacutainer plastic trace element blood collection tube 

Link: Which royal blue tube should I use?

Preferred Volume to Collect: 6.0 mL

Minimum Volume to Collect: 2.0 mL

Neonate Volume to Collect: 2.0 mL

Capillary collect ok? No

Microtainer acceptable?  No

Collection Instructions:

• Avoid hemolysis.
• After collection, gently invert tube 8-10 times.
• Specimen should be processed within 30 minutes – See Processing Instructions.

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

• Processed Specimen: Serum
• Centrifuge/Spin: Yes
• Aliquot: Yes
• Processing Instructions:

1. Allow the specimen to clot for 30 minutes
2. Centrifuge the specimen to separate serum from the cellular fraction.
3. Serum must be removed from the cellular fractionwithin 4 hours of specimen collection
4. Remove the stopper.
5. Carefully transfer with plastic pipette the serum specimen into a metal-free vial, avoiding transfer of the cellular components of blood
6. Do not ream the specimen with a wooden stick to assist with serum transfer.

• Minimum plasma/serum volume: 1.0 mL
• Transport Temperature: Refrigerated