COLLECTION

Preferred Collection Container: 

Red (No Additive)

Also Acceptable Collection Container: 

Light Blue (Citrate)

Collection Information: 

One 7 mL plain red preferred. No Gel

Also acceptable - Full blue top citrated collection tube.

Due to unique sample preparation steps in the assay for plasma and serum, the sample must be labelled as Plasma or Serum  in order to complete the assay.

Samples must be received at Pathology Laboratory by 10:00 am for testing that day.

Transport Information: 

Red Top Tubes: Allow tube to clot for 60 minutes, be sure the blood has clotted before centrifugation.
Centrifugation: The specimen should be centrifuged at 2000-2500 rpm for 15 minutes.
Transfer serum from red top tube to transport tube that is labelled as serum.


BlueTop Tubes: Make sure the collection tube is full.
Centrifugation: The specimen should be centrifuged at 2000-2500 rpm for 15 minutes.
Transfer plasma from blue top tube to transport tube that is labelled as plasma.

Minimum Sample Volume: 

0.2 mL serum or plasma labelled as serum or plasma

Remarks: 

If the specimen type is not indicated on the label, testing will be delayed by up to a day while specimen type is being investigated.

Unacceptable Conditions: 

Refrigerated specimens.

Samples collected in gel tubes, grossly lipemic, hemolyzed, or icteric specimens.

Microtainer specimens are not acceptable.