Specimen Requirements

Preferred:

Plasma

Container/Tube: Pink-top (EDTA) tube

Specimen Volume: 3 mL of EDTA plasma
Transport Temperature: Refrigerate
Collection Instructions:

1. Verify patient identity using two identifiers prior to collection.

2. For patients required to wear a hospital wristband: Hand label directly from the wristband using indelible black ink. Legibly write the patient’s full name and medical record number, collect date and time and collector’s initials. Forward promptly.

3. For office patients or outpatients not required to wear a hospital wristband: Legibly hand label using indelible black ink or apply office EMR-generated label with patient’s full name and second patient identifier (birthdate or medical record number). Forward promptly.

Note: Do not transfer plasma to other containers, submit original collection tube.

Alternate:

Serum
Container/Tube: Plain, red-top tube

Specimen Volume: 3 mL of serum
Transport Temperature: Refrigerate
Collection Instructions:

1. Verify patient identity using two identifiers prior to collection.

2. For patients required to a wear hospital wristband: Hand label directly from the wristband using indelible black ink. Legibly write the patient’s full name and medical record number, collect date and time and collector’s initials. Forward promptly.

3. For office patients or outpatients not required to wear a hospital wristband: Legibly hand label using indelible black ink or apply office EMR-generated label with patient’s full name and second patient identifier (birthdate or medical record number). Forward promptly.

Note: Do not transfer serum to other containers, submit original collection tube.