Specimen Required

Container/Tube:
Preferred: Lithium Heparin (Mint)
Acceptable: Serum gel, Tiger top, Red top
Specimen Volume: 1.0 mL
 

Collection Instructions:

Non-alcoholic germicidal solution should be used to swab the venipuncture site or to clean the equipment used to collect the specimen.

Precautions should be taken to prevent alcohol evaporation from specimens by using airtight caps and analyzing as soon as possible.

Plasma gel tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection. 4 hours is acceptable.
Serum gel tubes should be fully clotted and centrifuged within 2 hours of collection. 4 hours is acceptable.
Red-top tubes should be fully clotted, centrifuged and aliquoted within 2 hours of collection.4 hours is acceptable.