Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Blood
Container/Tube: Tiger top, serum gel
Also Acceptable: Green top (Lithium Heparin)
Specimen Volume: Full tube, submit 0.5 mL serum
Specimen Minimum Volume: 0.3 mL
Collection Instructions:
  1. Send specimen in original tube.
  2. If there is a delay in transport of >1 hour, centrifuge tube.
  3. Centrifuged samples are stable for:
      • 8 hours at room temperature
      • 7 days at 2-8 °C
      • For longer storage, freeze at –20 °C or colder

Specimen Type: Urine, 24-hour collection
Container/Tube: Plastic container
Specimen Volume: Entire 24-hour collection
Collection Instructions:

  1. No preservative. 
  2. Refrigerate specimen during collection.

  3. Urine samples are stable for 4 days at 2 – 8ºC

  4. Read Instructions in 24 Hour Urine Collection.
 

Additional Information:

  1. Starting and ending times of collection are required.
  2. Give Patient Container with 24 Hour Urine Collection - Patient Instructions Form that can be printed from Resources.