Specimen Requirements

Container Type: Lithium Heparin (Green Top) or Serum Separator (Gold Top)
Specimen Type: Plasma or Serum
Preferred Volume: 1 mL each specimen
Emergency Minimum Volume: 0.3 mL each specimen
Patient Prep: This test should be done in the morning after an overnight fast of between 8 and 14 hours, and after at least 3 days of unrestricted diet (150 or more grams carbohydrate per day) and unlimited physical activity. The patient should remain seated and should not smoke throughout the test. Patient can have nothing by mouth except water during test period.

Glucose Dose: Non-pregnant adults - 75 grams    Children - 1.75 gm/kg of ideal body weight, up to a maximum of 75 grams.
Collection Procedure: Draw fasting specimen just prior to 75 gram glucose load. Draw 1, 2 and 3 hour samples after glucola. Clearly label each specimen with time of draw.

Specimen Processing: Separate serum or plasma from cells within 30 minutes of collection by centrifugation. Aliquot serum or plasma into a separate tube if parent tube does not have a gel barrier. Store and transport refrigerated.
Unacceptable Conditions: Specimens not separated from cells within 30 minutes of collection (except Fluoride/Oxalate (Gray Top)).
Alternate Specimens: Plain Serum Tube (Red Top), Fluoride/Oxalate (Gray Top), EDTA Plasma (Lavender Top)

Stability: