Specimen Requirements

Container/Tube:

Preferred: Gold-top serum gel tube(s) 

Acceptable:  Plain, red-top tube(s)

Specimen Volume: 250 uL of serum

Stability:  If the assay is performed within 120 hours (5 days) of sample collection, the samples should be kept at 2-8°C; otherwise they should be stored frozen (-20°C or below).

Collection Instructions:

1. Fasting (preferred but not required).

2. Centrifuge immediately and separate from cells within 1 hour of draw.

3. Label specimen appropriately (serum).

4. Forward promptly.

Additional Information:

1. Grossly hemolyzed specimens should be recollected.

2. Lipemic samples should be ultracentrifuged before testing.

3. If there is a delay in transport of >5 days or if mailing time exceeds 5 days, spin down, remove serum from cells and freeze immediately in plastic vial. Send specimen frozen.