Specimen Requirements

Specimen must be refrigerated until test is performed.

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Preferred:

Specimen Type: Plasma

Container/Tube: Light-green top (lithium heparin gel)

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume: 0.5 mL/pediatric: 0.2 mL in a green top MICROTAINER

Collection Instructions:

1. For therapeutic monitoring, draw trough level up to 30 minutes prior to dose. Peak specimen should be drawn 30 minutes after an oral liquid dose or 2 to 8 hours after dose if tablet or capsule is given. If toxicity is suspected, draw level when ordered STAT.

2. Spin down within 2 hours of draw to separate plasma from cells.  Aliquot plasma.

3. If plunger filters are used, immediate removal of plasma is indicated unless an air gap can be created between the device and specimen.

Additional Information:

1. Avoid repeated freeze/thaw cycles.

2. If extreme lipemia-use ultracentrifuged specimen.

3. Label specimen appropriately (plasma).

Alternate:

Specimen Type: Serum

Container/Tube: Serum gel

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume: 0.5 mL/pediatric: 0.2 mL in a red top MICROTAINER

Collection Instructions:

1. For therapeutic monitoring, draw trough level up to 30 minutes prior to dose. Peak specimen should be drawn 30 minutes after an oral liquid dose or 2 to 8 hours after dose if tablet or capsule is given. If toxicity is suspected, draw level when ordered STAT.

2. Spin down, separate serum from cells and aliquot within 2 hours of draw.  Aliquot serum.

3. If plunger filters are used, immediate removal of serum is indicated unless an air gap can be created between the device and specimen.

Additional Information:

1. Avoid repeated freeze/thaw cycles.

2. If extreme lipemia-use ultracentrifuged specimen.

3. Label specimen appropriately (serum).