Specimen Requirements
Minimum of 1.0 mL serum
Supplies for Submission
SST/Gold Top (1)
Specimen Collection
- Allow serum separator tube (SST) contents to clot in an upright position for at least 30 minutes.
- 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. - Transfer serum to the tube and freeze (CFZ). Send this aliquot separately when multiple tests are ordered.
Storage Requirements
Critical Frozen (CFZ).
After separation from cells, specimens are stable if frozen for 1 month.
Causes for Rejections
Specimens with the following conditions are not accepted:
- room temperature
- gross hemolysis
- lipemia