Specimen Requirements

Container Type: Serum Separator (Gold Top)

Alternative Type:  Red top
Specimen Type: Serum
Preferred Volume: 1 mL
Emergency Minimum Volume: 0.3 mL
Specimen Processing: Separate serum from cells as soon as possible by centrifugation. Aliquot serum into a separate tube if parent tube does not have a gel barrier. Protect specimen from light. Store and transport refrigerated; or if it'll be greater than 24 hours to the lab, store and transport frozen. One freeze/thaw acceptable.
Unacceptable Conditions: Not protected from light. Hemolyzed specimens. (FOLATE)
Limitations: Samples should not be taken from patients receiving therapy with high biotin doses (i.e. >5 mg/day) until at least 8 hours following the last biotin administration.

Stability: