Specimen Requirements

Container Type: Lithium Heparin (Green Top)
Specimen Type: Plasma 
Preferred Volume: 1 mL
Emergency Minimum Volume: 0.3 mL
Collection Procedure: Centrifuge blood sample immediately after colleciton to separate plasma from blood cells.  If immediate centrifugation is not possible, the blood specimen should be kept on ice and centrifuged within 1 hour.
Specimen Processing: Separate plasma from cells immediately. Aliquot 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 immediately or not put on ice, if unable to centifuge immediately. Hemolyzed or Grossly Lipemic specimens.

Limitations: Test cannot be added on to sample previously drawn unless verified that tube was drawn on ice and processed as above.

Alternate Specimens: EDTA Plasma (Lavender Top)

Stability: