Collect
Blue top tube.
Specimen Preparation
Onsite [NJH]: Transport to lab within 1 hour.
Offsite: Separate plasma from cells within 2 hours by centrifuge and aliquot into a labeled polypropylene or similar plastic tube.
Preferred volume: 1 mL plasma
Pediatric Collection
Minimum volume: 0.5 mL
Unacceptable Conditions
Sample will be rejected if under-filled. Clotted and hemolyzed specimens will also be rejected.
Storage Transport Temp
Offsite: Frozen. Send plasma Priority Overnight via FedEx and in a well insulated container on dry ice.
Stability
Stability after cell separation:
24 hours at RT (15-25°C ),
refrigerated unacceptable,
2 weeks frozen at ≤ -20°C
1 year frozen at ≤ - 70°C
Notes
Make sure Blue top tube is filled properly to assure proper ratio of anticoagulant to whole blood.