One 5 mL gold (SST) top tube.

Also acceptable: Plasma collected in : dark green (sodium heparin) or light green (lithium heparin) top tube.

Transfer 1 mL serum (Min: 0.5 mL)

* Collection Instructions *

Specify age and sex on test request form.

Red-top tube (no gel):

• Allow blood to clot at room temperature.
• Centrifuge to separate the serum from the cells and immediately pour serum into a plastic transport tube.

Serum separator tube:

• Allow blood to clot at room temperature, centrifuge, and remove serum from the gel immediately (not to exceed 48 hours) by pouring serum into a plastic transport tube.

* Collection Instructions *

Specify age and sex on test request form.

Ambient: 7 days

Refrigerated: 21 days

Frozen: 2 years

• Gross hemolysis
• Grossly lipemic