Specimen Requirements

Container/Tube:

Preferred: Full blue-top (sodium citrate) 1.8 mL tube-Hemolyzed or short draw specimen is not acceptable.
Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL sodium citrate plasma

Uncentrifuged specimens:  Whole blood speicmens are stable 24 hours in primary tube when stored 15-25°C.

Centrifuged specimens:  Stable for 24 hours in primary tube when stored 15-25°C.  If testing cannot be completed within 24 hours, plasma should be removed from the cells and frozen for up to 1 week.

NOTE:  Patients with a hematocrit of >55% must be recollected using an altered amount of sodium citrate.