Specimen Requirements

Preferred Collection Container: 

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

Also Acceptable Collection Container: 

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

Collection Information: 

Collect blood in a plasma or serum separator tube (green or red top also acceptable).

Capillary blood collections are unsuitable for use in this assay. Cystatin C concentrations were significantly lower in capillary samples compared to venous blood samples.

Transport Information: 

0.5 mL of refrigerated serum in a transport tube.

Minimum Sample Volume: 

0.2 mL of serum or plasma (approximately 0.5 mL of whole blood based upon normal patient hematocrit)

Unacceptable Conditions: 

Capillary blood samples.

Stability Comments: 

1. Serum gel tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.
2. Red-top tubes should be centrifuged and aliquoted within 2 hours of collection.