Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Blood
Container/Tube  
Preferred: Perchloric acid (PCA) Vacutainer. 
Acceptable: NA 
Collection Volume: 1.0 mL
NOTE: minimum of 0.5 mL whole blood may be used but MUST call lab to get an adjusted PCA tube for reduced volume. Lab should remove 1.0mL Perchloric Acid from the tube before blood is added. 
Patient Preparation: Remove tourniquet from patient's arm before collecting specimen.

Sample Rejection:

Specimens collected in other than PCA tubes.
Specimens with incorrect volume of blood to PCA ratio.
Specimens that are grossly hemolyzed.
Mislabeled or unlabeled specimens. 

Special Instructions:

1. Call lab at 314-653-4455, Option 1, to have PCA tube sent for collection.
2. Collect exactly 1.0 mL of whole blood in a syringe
3. Remove needle from syringe and remove top of PCA tube. GENTLY push blood from syringe into PCA tube. Place top back on PCA tube and mix tube vigorously to fully deproteinize the sample.
4. Forward to lab promptly.

LABORATORY INSTRUCTIONS:

Lab Processing instructions: Centrifuge specimen to separate and aliquot into a conical tube. Refrigerate specimen if received after cut-off time.
 Processed Volume: Remove all of the supernatant without getting any of the cellular components.
A minimum of 0.3 mL supernatant should be removed and placed in conical tube.
NOTES: Specimen may also be collected with 0.5 mL of whole blood but MUST be added to and mixed in an adjusted PCA tube with only 1.0 mL of perchloric acid. Remove 1.0mL of Perchloric Acid from tube before adding 0.5mL blood.

Reject due to gross hemolysis.
Reject if specimen to PCA ratio is not correct.