A fasting serum specimen is recommended, but not required.
Timing, specimen options and instructions reflect the source snapshot.
FROM COLLECTION TO THE LAB
Specimen & handling
Specimen
Serum
Container
Serum Separator Tube (SST) – 0.5 ml serum
Required volume
Serum Separator Tube (SST) – 0.5 ml serum
Preparation
A fasting serum specimen is recommended, but not required.
Collection instructions
Serum Separator Tube (SST) – 0.5 ml serum
Processing
All human Serum Samples are considered to be potentially infective and are to be treated as such. Follow all precaution for handling biological material. Use all appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Serum free from hemolysis is the recommended specimens. Allow blood samples to clot (15 mins). Separate the serum from the cells by centrifuging for 10 minutes. Store serum at 2-8°C until analysis.
Storage
Refrigerated
Stability
Serum samples are stable up to 8-hours when stored at room temperature (18 – 25°C) or up to one week when stored refrigerated at 2 – 8°C.
Rejection criteria
1. Any sample that is mislabeled 2. Any sample without a test request 3. Any broken or damaged tubes 4. Improperly spun or unspun
Technical information & codes+
Methodology
Quantitative Spectrophotometry
CPT code
84100
Codes are shown for identification from the source snapshot. Confirm current coding and billing information with the laboratory.
