Specimen Requirements
Minimum of 1.0 mL serum; alternately 1.0 mL serum from Red Top tube
Supplies for Submission
SST/Gold Top (1); alternately Red Top (1)
Specimen 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 appropriately as SST or Red Top serum, and include collection time.
- Allow SST contents to clot in an upright position for at least 30 minutes (60 minutes for Red Top tube).
- Centrifuge within 2 hours of collection.
- Transfer serum to the plastic transport tube and freeze.
Storage Requirements
Frozen.
After separation from cells, specimens are stable if refrigerated for 1 week or frozen for 6 months.