Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 30 minutes of draw. Specimendrawn in syringe must be tested within 1 minute after draw. Specimen Type: Venous or arterial whole bloodContainer/Tube:Green-top (lithium or sodium heparin) tube-Syringe is also acceptable.Specimen Volume:Tube must be filled at least half fullCollection Instructions:1. Rejection criteria include evidence of clotting or anticoagulant other than lithium or sodium heparin.2.Precautions-avoid the following:A. Drawing a specimen from an arm with an I.V.B.Stasis (tourniquet left on >1 minute before venipuncture).C.Extra muscle activity (fist pumping).D.Hemolysis (alcohol left over puncture site, or a traumatic draw).