Collect
Gray top tube [NaF].
Plain red top or SST tube also acceptable.
Specimen Preparation
Onsite [NJH]: Transport to lab within 1 hour.
Offsite: Separate serum or plasma from cells within 1 hour by centrifuge and aliquot into a labeled polypropylene or similar plastic tube.
Preferred volume: 1 mL plasma or serum
Patient Prep
Patient should be fasting for 8-14 hours prior to blood collection.
Pediatric Collection
Minimum volume: 0.1 mL serum or plasma
Storage Transport Temp
Offsite: Send frozen serum or plasma Priority Overnight via FedEx and in a well insulated container on dry ice.
Stability
Stability after cell separation:
8 hours at at RT (15-25°C)
72 hours refrigerated at 2-8°C
>24 hours frozen at -20°C Fluoride preserved plasma samples stable at RT (15-25°C) for 72 hours