Specimen Requirements

Preferred:

Draw blood in a light green-top (lithium heparin) gel tube. Centrifuge within 2 hours of collection and refrigerate if collected off-site.

Acceptable:

Draw blood in a serum gel tube (gold-top, tiger-top SST). Centrifuge within 2 hours of collection and refrigerate if collected off-site.

Plain red is also acceptable for this test, but must be allowed to fully clot before centrifugation. The serum must be separated from contact with the cells within two hours of collection. Indicate "serum" on the aliquot container. Refrigerate if collected off-site.