Specimen Required

Patient Preparation: Patient should fast overnight (12-14 hours); infants should have specimen collected before next feeding.

Supplies: Amber Frosted Tube, 5 mL (T915)

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Red top

Acceptable: Serum gel

Submission Container/Tube: Amber vial

Specimen Volume: 2 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Within 2 hours of collection, centrifuge the specimen.

2. For red top tubes, immediately aliquot serum into an amber vial (preferred). Serum may sit on whole blood cells up to a maximum of two hours before aliquoting.

3. For serum gel tubes, immediately aliquot serum into an amber vial (preferred). Serum may sit on gel at ambient temperature for a maximum of 24 hours or refrigerated for a maximum of 7 days before aliquoting.