Specimen Requirements

Preferred Collection Container: 

SST (Serum Separator)
Light Green (Lithium Heparin Plasma Separator Tube)

Also Acceptable Collection Container: 

Red (No Additive)
Green No Gel (Lithium Heparin)

Collection Information: 

Collect blood in a serum separator tube or light green lithium heparin separator tube.

Transport Information: 

Centrifuge and aliquot 1.0 mL serum or plasma into a plastic transport vial. Send frozen.

Minimum Sample Volume: 

0.75 mL of serum (approximately 1.25 mL of whole blood based upon a normal patient hematocrit)

Remarks: 

Patient Preparation: 12 hours before this test do not take multivitamins or dietary supplements containing biotin or vitamin B7, which are commonly found in hair, skin, and nail supplements and multivitamins. Patient should fast 8 hours prior to collection.

Unacceptable Conditions: 

Hemolysis