Specimen Requirements

Serum and 2 tubes of blood are required. Specimen Type: Container/Tube: Red top or serum gel. Specimen Volume: 2 mL, Collection Instructions: 1. Spin down within 45 minutes of draw. 2. Avoid prolonged contact of serum with separated red cells; or grossly hemolyzed, icteric, or lipemic specimen. 3. Label specimen appropriately (serum). Specimen Type: Blood. Container/Tube: Lavender top (EDTA) or lavender-top (EDTA) MICROTAINER. Specimen Volume: Full tube. Collection Instructions: 1. Invert tube several times to mix blood. 2. Hemolyzed or clotted specimen, specimen diluted with intravenous fluid, or tube not filled with minimum volume is not acceptable. Specimen must arrive within 72 hours of draw. Specimen Type: Blood. Container/Tube: Pink top (K2 EDTA). Specimen Volume: Full tube. Collection Instructions: 1. Invert several times to mix blood. 2. Avoid gross hemolysis. 3. Hand label specimen in ink with patient full name (first, last and middle initial), medical record number or date of birth, date and time of draw, and initials of collector. 4. Serum gel tube is not acceptable.