Specimen Requirements

Preferred Collection Container: 

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

Also Acceptable Collection Container: 

Green No Gel (Lithium Heparin)
Red (No Additive)
Plasma from Lavender tubes is acceptable but will not route in the Laboratory Information System (Sunquest)

Collection Information: 

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

Transport Information: 

Centrifuge and aliquot 0.6 mL of plasma or serum in a plastic transport vial. Send refrigerated.

Minimum Sample Volume: 

0.5 mL of serum or plasma (approximately 1.0 mL of whole blood based upon a normal patient hematocrit)

Remarks: 

The purpose of this assay is for following the course of therapy of tumors, such as choriocarcinoma.

Unacceptable Conditions: 

Grossly hemolyzed