Specimen Requirements

Do not use samples that have been stored at room temperature for longer than 8 hours.

Tightly cap and refrigerate specimens at 2–8°up to 48 hours.

Draw blood in a plain, red-top tube(s) or a serum gel tube(s), preferred. Plasma from a lithium heparin is acceptable. 

Spin down and send 3 mL of serum (or plasma) refrigerated. If there is a delay in transport of >48 hours, send specimen frozen in plastic vial.

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