Specimen Requirements

Procedure:

1. Physician should give the patient a prescription to fill for dexamethasone preparation.

2. Patient should take 1 mg of dexamethasone at 2300 the evening before the test.

3. Patient should report to have their blood drawn at 0800 the following morning.

Specimen Collection:

Draw blood in a serum gel tube(s). Spin down and send 1 mL of serum refrigerated. If there is a delay in transport of >7 days, freeze specimen in plastic vial.
Note:  Specimen can only be thawed once.

Unspun specimens must be transported at ambient temperature and arrive to the laboratory within one hour of draw.