One mL of any one of the following specimens:

Whole blood collected in a lavender (EDTA) or yellow (ACD) top tube OR Plasma collected in lavender (EDTA), yellow (ACD B) or white (PPT EDTA) top tube or Serum OR

CSF, bronchoalveolar lavage, eye fluids, amniotic fluids, amniotic fluid supernatant, random urine collected in a sterile leak-proof container. Also acceptable: 3 mm frozen fresh tissue

CRITICAL STERILE

* Collection Instructions *

Whole blood

• Collect whole blood in sterile tubes containing EDTA or ACD as anticoagulant.
• Store refrigerated. Do not freeze whole blood. Plasma Collect blood in sterile tubes containing EDTA or ACD as anticoagulant or in plasma preparation tubes (PPT).
• Store collected whole blood ambient and separate plasma from cells within 2 hours of collection.
• Transfer plasma to sterile, plastic, screw-cap tubes and store refrigerated or frozen.
• If blood is collected ina PPT tube, centrifuge within 2 hours of collection and store refrigerated or frozen. It is not necessary to transer the plasma from a PPT tube to aliquot tubes.

Serum

• Collect in a plain red (no gel) or gold (SST) top tube and storge refrigerated or frozen

CSF, amniotic fluid, urine, BAL, eye fluids

• Collect in a sterile container and store refrigerated or frozen.

Whole blood

Ambient: 48 hours

Refrigerated: 8 days

Frozen: Unacceptable

All other sample types

Ambient: 48 hours

Refrigerated: 8 days

Frozen: 30 days

• Heparinized specimens
• Unspun PPT tube