Timing, specimen options and instructions reflect the source snapshot.
FROM COLLECTION TO THE LAB
Specimen & handling
Specimen
Serum
Container
Serum Separator Tube (SST) – 1 ml serum.
Required volume
Serum Separator Tube (SST) – 1 ml serum.
Collection instructions
Serum Separator Tube (SST) – 1 ml serum.
Processing
Collect sample observing universal precautions for venipuncture. Use all appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Allow blood samples to clot (15 mins). Separate the serum from the cells by centrifuging for 10 minutes.
Storage
Refrigerated.
Stability
After separation from cells: Room Temperature at 20‑25°C : 7 days; Refrigerated at 2-8 °C: 4 weeks; Frozen at ‑20°C(±5°C) : 3 months. At Accu Reference: Refrigerated: 7 days: Frozen: 2 weeks
Rejection criteria
• Specimen collected in the incorrect tubes. • Specimen received with mismatched patient identifiers. • Specimen received outside of stability requirements. • Grossly hemolyzed or lipemic samples. • Heat inactivated samples. • Samples stabilized with azide. • Sample tubes which were previously opened (e.g., uncapped/recapped SST tubes, aliquot tubes)
Technical information & codes+
Methodology
Ectrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA)
CPT code
86703
Codes are shown for identification from the source snapshot. Confirm current coding and billing information with the laboratory.
