Specimen Requirements

Consult physician for specific orders. Patient should be instructed to eat and drink nothing except water for 10 to 14 hours prior to test. Patient should be instructed to refrain from smoking and drinking coffee just before and during test.

Specimen Type: Plasma

Container/Tube: Green top (lithium heparin gel)

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Draw blood specimen for a fasting glucose.

2. Give patient 75 g of Glucola or instruct patient to eat breakfast depending on physician’s order.

3. Draw a 1-hour specimen post dose or meal.

4. Label specimens appropriately (corresponding draw times and intervals).
5. Spin down within 45 minutes of draw. Avoid prolonged contact of plasma with separated red cells; or hemolyzed, icteric, or lipemic specimen.