Specimen Requirements

Container Type: Fluoride/Oxalate (Gray Top)
Specimen Type: Plasma
Preferred Volume: 2 mL
Emergency Minimum Volume: 1 mL
Patient Prep: Patient should be at complete rest for at least 30 minutes prior to blood draw.
Collection Procedure: Do not have patient pump their fist while drawing blood specimen. Standard phlebotomy practice, with a tourniquet has been found to be acceptable (by SCMC-Bend internal study). For Inpatients, collect and put on ice immediately before sending to Lab.
Specimen Processing: Separate plasma from cells within 15 minutes of collection by centrifugation and aliquot the plasma into a separate tube. Store and transport refrigerated.
Unacceptable Conditions: Serum specimens. Specimens not separated from cells within 15 minutes. HEELSTICK BLOOD COLLECTION IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR THIS TEST.
Limitations: Values may elevate 20-50% after meals.

Stability: