Specimen Requirements

Container/Tube Type: 

Green No Gel (Lithium Heparin)
Light Green (Lithium Heparin Plasma Separator Tube)
Red (No Additive)
SST (Serum Separator)

Preferred Collection Container: 

Green No Gel (Lithium Heparin)
Light Green (Lithium Heparin Plasma Separator Tube)

Also Acceptable Collection Container: 

Plasma from Lavender tubes is acceptable but will not route in the Laboratory Information System (Sunquest).

Collection Information: 
If collected in SST tube or Red Top tube, spin down within 2 hours of collection and immediately refrigerate or freeze serum. Forward promptly to laboratory.

Transport Information: 

3.0 mL blood/1.0 mL serum or plasma

Minimum Sample Volume: 

0.8 mL blood/0.25 mL serum plasma

Remarks: 

Samples must be collected at least 6 hours after the last dose to allow for complete distribution of the drug in the patient. Samples collected before 6 hours will have falsely elevated results. Trough samples should be collected just before the next dose.