Collection Requirements

Specimen: Plasma, frozen

Volume: 1.5 mL (plasma)

Minimum Volume: 0.7 mL plasma (Note: This volume does not allow for repeat testing.)

Container: Lavender-top (EDTA) tube or green-top (heparin) tube

Collection: Draw blood in chilled lavender-top (EDTA) tube. Invert to mix with preservatives. Centrifuge and transfer the plasma to a labeled plastic transport tube. Place on-ice immediately (do not refrigerate) and freeze separated plasma within four hours of collection.

Storage Instructions: After centrifugation, the plasma must be frozen immediately.

Important: The patient should be in a fully recumbent position (lying down) for at least 30 minutes before and during sample collection.

To avoid delays in turnaround time when requesting multiple tests on frozen samples, please submit separate frozen specimens for each test requested.

Patient Preparation: Patient should discontinue drugs and other substances that may affect measured catecholamine results for at least one week before obtaining the specimen (see Limitations for details).