Collect
Preferred volume: Three 10 mL Green (Sodium Heparin) top heparinized tubes.
Specimen Preparation
DO NOT centrifuge tubes.
Pediatric Collection
Minimum volume: Two10 mL Green (Sodium Heparin) top heparinized tubes.
Unacceptable Conditions
Centrifuged specimens, specimens received after 24 hours of draw, frozen specimens, specimens in lithium heparin, specimens in tubes with gel such as SST's and PSTs.
Storage Transport Temp
Send ambient blood Priority Overnight via FedEx and in a well insulated container.
Specimen must be received in the laboratory within 24 hours of collection.
Samples will be received Mon - Fri, no later than noon on Friday.
Stability
AMBIENT: 24 HOURS
Notes
Cells are checked for their sensitivity to the suppressive effect of the steroids tested based on the IC50 (measures the amount of a given glucocorticoid to inhibit the activation of lymphocytes by 50%) and Imax (maximum suppression).
A Steroid Kinetics Questionnaire is required prior to completing any of the above tests. You may download and print the questionnaire. Please send completed form along with requisition.