Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 4 hours of draw.

Container/Tube: Light blue-top (citrate) tube filled

Specimen Volume: 4.5 mL (adults) or 2.7 mL (pediatrics) of citrate whole blood

Transport Temperature: Refrigerate

Collection Instructions: Forward promptly.

Special Instructions

If testing cannot be completed within 4 hours of draw, submit plasma as follows: Spin the sample in a centrifuge verified to produce platelet-poor plasma, remove the plasma, spin the plasma aliquot, then remove at least 1 mL plasma and immediately freeze. Double-centrifuged specimen is critical for accurate results.  Centrifugation should be at 1000 g's for 10 minutes @ 4^oC, or in the StatSpin for 180 seconds or in the StatSpin Express for 5 minutes.

Sample is stable frozen for up to 2 weeks at -20^oC or -70^oC for up to 6 months. A frost-free freezer should not be used.