Specimen Requirements

Container/Tube:

Preferred: Green-top (lithium heparin) tube

Acceptable: Gold-top serum gel tube or plain red-top tube

Specimen Volume: A minimum of 1.5 µL plus a dead volume is required for testing.

Stability: Separated specimens should be analyzed immediately but samples are stable

               for 7 days when kept at 2 – 8°C  and  20-25 ºC.  For longer storage,  serum samples may                   be frozen at -20°C or colder for up to a year, and plasma samples is stable for 2 months.