One 3 mL lavender (EDTA) top tube.

1 mL plasma frozen (Min: 0.3 mL).

* Collection Instructions *

• Mix the sample and centrifuge immediately after collection to separate plasma from cells.
• Transfer plasma to a plastic specimen transport container and mark the specimen type as plasma on the container.
• Freeze immediately.
• Cytokine levels may demonstrate diurnal variation.
• Recommend cytokine levels be determined at the same time of the day for improved longitudinal comparison.

Ambient: 4 hours

Refrigerated: 48 hours

Frozen: 1 year

• Gross hemolysis
• Gross lipemia
• Received room temperature
• Received refrigerated
• Gross icterus