Specimen Requirements

Draw blood in green-top (lithium heparin) tube AND a lavender EDTA tube.

The green-top tube is for the iPTH Chemistries (Calcium, Creatinine, and Phosphorus) and the Lavender tube is for the iPTH

Serum is also acceptable for the chemistries (CA,CRET,PHOS), but not preferred. A morning specimen is preferred. Hemolyzed specimen is not acceptable for phosphorus. Spin down and send 1 mL (minimum 0.5 mL) of both lithium heparin and EDTA plasma. Keep specimens refrigerated at 2 - 8° Celsius. If tubes will not arrive in the lab within eight hours of collection, send the lavender EDTA iPTH plasma frozen in a pour off tube.