Specimen Requirements

Preparation of Patient:

None

Container Type:

Red Top Tube on Ice Slurry

LIS Container Code = RI

Specimen Type:

Serum

Specimen Volume:

1 mL serum or minimum .5 mL serum

Specimen Handling/Transport:

1. Place specimen on ice or refrigerate at 2 - 8^oC immediately after collection until centrifuged.  Separate serum from cells within 6 hours of collection into plastic vial.  Samples do not need to be spun in a refrigerated centerifuge.  A gel barrier is considered separated from cells.
2. Store refrigerated 2 - 8^oC until transport. 
3. Transport refrigerated, on ice or with cold pack, to maintain 2 - 8^oC until testing can be performed.  For offsite collections, place on separate transport list with PRIORITY label packaging to ensure prompt delivery to test processing area.

Specimen Stability/Storage:

6 hours spun or unspun if placed on ice or refrigerate 2 - 8^oC immediately after collection.  Once spun and separated, sample is stable for 5 days if refrigerated at 2 - 8^oC