Specimen Requirements

Container Type: Sterile Container
Specimen Type: Body Fluid
Preferred Volume: 1 mL
Emergency Minimum Volume: 0.3 mL
Specimen Processing: Separate fluid from cells and precipitates as soon as possible by centrifugation. Remove fluid from cells and aliquot into a separate tube. Store and transport room temperature. Note the fluid source.
Required Patient Info: Indicate fluid source.
Unacceptable Conditions: Hemolyzed specimens. Syringe with needle attached.

Limitations: Add-on requests for this test will contain the following disclaimer if sample has been refrigerated.  St. Charles refrigerates chemistry samples for storage. "In connection with certain diseases (e.g.hepatopathy, diseases of skeletal muscle, malignant tumors), the LDH-4 and LDH-5 isoenzyme portions are increased and unstable in cooled samples. This test has been added to a previously cooled sample, please note this may lead to an incorrect LDH value in patients suffering from such diseases."
Alternate Specimens: Plain Serum Tube (Red Top)

Stability: