Collection Instructions

Specimen Collection: Blood

Container(s): 4.5 mL Mint Green Top (Lithium Heparin Gel) or 5.0 mL Gold Top (Serum Separator-SST Gel)*

Preferred Volume to Collect: 4.5 mL

Minimum Volume to Collect: 2.0 mL

Neonate Volume to Collect: 1.0 mL

Capillary collect ok? Yes

Microtainer acceptable: Yes

Collection Instructions:

• Inpatients: Please contact your local inpatient pharmacy for information regarding appropriate timing for blood drug level orders, if needed.
• Indicated date and time of last dose.

• Specimen usually collected as trough level.

• Avoid gross hemolysis

• After collection, gently invert tube 8-10 times.
• Specimen should be processed within 2 hours – See Processing Instructions.

*Red top (plain) or Green top (Lithium Heparin, Non-Gel) are also acceptable specimen containers.

Processing Instructions (Laboratory, Outpatient or Off-site collection)

Processed Specimen: Plasma or Serum

Centrifuge/Spin: Yes

Aliquot: Yes

Processing Instructions:

• Plasma is preferred specimen type
• Green Tube/Plasma: Centrifuge after collection.
• Gold Tube/Serum: Allow blood to clot for 30 minutes in a vertical position and centrifuge within 2 hours.

Transport Temperature: Refrigerate