Specimen Requirements
Minimum of 1.0 mL serum; alternately 1.0 mL serum from Red Top tube or 1.0 mL plasma from Green Top sodium heparin tube
Supplies for Submission
SST/Gold Top (1); alternately Red Top (1) or Green Top (1)
Specimen Collection
- Allow serum separator tube (SST) contents to clot in an upright position for at least 30 minutes (60 minutes for Red Top tube). Omit this step for Green Top tube.
- Centrifuge within 2 hours of collection.
- Label a plastic transport tube with two identifiers. Acceptable identifiers include patient’s name, date of birth, social security number, requisition number, and medical record number.
Label the tube as serum (or Red Top serum or heparin plasma as appropriate.) - Transfer serum (or plasma) to the tube and freeze - send this aliquot separately when multiple tests are ordered.
Storage Requirements
Frozen.
After separation from cells, specimens are stable if refrigerated for 1 week or frozen for 6 months.
Causes for Rejections
After separation from cells, room temperature specimens are not accepted.