Collect
Plain red top or SST tube.
Specimen Preparation
Onsite [NJH]: Transport to lab within 1 hour.
Offsite: Separate serum from cells within 2 hours by centrifuge and aliquot into a labeled polypropylene or similar plastic tube.
Preferred volume: 1 mL serum
Patient Prep
Onsite [NJH]: Transport to lab within 1 hour.
Offsite: Separate serum from cells within 2 hours by centrifuge and aliquot into a labeled polypropylene or similar plastic tube.
Preferred volume: 1 mL serum
Pediatric Collection
Minimum volume: 0.3mL serum
Unacceptable Conditions
Grossly hemolyzed specimens
Storage Transport Temp
Offsite: Send frozen serum Priority Overnight via FedEx and in a well insulated container on dry ice.
Stability
Room Temp (15-25°C) – 24 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C) – 48 hours
Frozen (≤ -20°C) – 15 days