Collection Instructions

Specimen Collection: Blood

Container(s): 6 mL Pink Top (EDTA) OR 5 mL Gold top (Serum Separator-SST Gel)

Preferred Volume to Collect: Full tube (6 mL or 5 mL)

Collection Instructions:

• Gently invert EDTA tube(s) 8 - 10 times after collection.
• Specimen should be processed within 24 hours – See Processing Instructions.

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

• Processed Specimen: Plasma or Serum
• Centrifuge/Spin: Yes
• Aliquot: Yes
• Processed Minimum Volume: 2.0 mL Plasma or Serum
• Processing Instructions:
  • Plasma is preferred specimen type
  • With room temperature storage, centrifuge whole blood in EDTA or Serum Separator tube within 24 hours of collection. 
  • With refrigerated temperature storage, centrifuge whole blood in EDTA or Serum Separator tube within 72 hours of collection. 
  • Transfer plasma or serum to a screw-capped transport tube.
  • Plasma or serum needs to be stored frozen in screw-capped transport tube after separation from cells
• Transport temperature: Prefer that plasma or serum be frozen for transport