Specimen Requirements

Specimen must be tested within 4 hours of draw.

Specimen Type: Plasma

Container/Tube: Light-blue top (3.2% sodium citrate)

Specimen Volume: Full tube

Collection Instructions:

1. Do not draw from an arm with heparin lock or heparinized catheter.

2. If specimen must be drawn from central line, flush with saline; and discard the first 5 mL of blood.

Additional Information:

1. If specimen cannot be delivered to the laboratory in the proper time period, spin down (within 1 hour of draw) at 6,000 rpm for 5 minutes.

2. Remove plasma and place in a plastic transport tube.

3. Label tube with patient’s name and time of collection.

4. Freeze plasma at -20° C and send to laboratory frozen.

Specimen Rejection:

1. Clotted blood

2. Insufficient specimen