Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 14 hours of draw.

Preferred:

Specimen Type: Plasma

Container/Tube: Mint-green top (lithium heparin)

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Fasting patient (12-14 hour preferred).

2. Spin down unopened (vacuum intact) tube within 45 minutes of draw, and send specimen in original tube.

3. Keep specimen anaerobic (do not open or transfer).

4. Avoid hemolysis.

5. Label specimen as plasma.

Alternate (Non-Hospital Patient):

Specimen Type: Serum

Container/Tube: Gold top, serum gel

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Fasting patient (12-14 hour preferred).

2. Spin down unopened (vacuum intact) tube within 45 minutes of draw, and send specimen in original tube.

3. Keep specimen anaerobic (do not open or transfer).

4. Avoid hemolysis.

5. Label specimen as serum.

Home Health Patients - extended stability

Home Health specimens can be accepted UNSPUN for up to 4 hours after draw, provided we receive a room temperature Mint and Gray tube (Na Flouride/K Oxalate) for separate Glucose testing. Cerner order should be CS Comp, CS Renal or CS Basic to get labels for the separate Glucose.