Specimen Requirements

Plasma and serum are required.

Specimen Type: Plasma

Container/Tube: Lavender top (EDTA)

Specimen Volume: 5 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume: 2 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Draw blood in 2 pre-warmed lavender-top (EDTA) tubes. Tubes must remain at 37° C (for example on a heat pack) for 1 hour prior to centrifuging.

2. Centrifuge at 37° C. (Do not use a refrigerated centrifuge. If necessary, ambient temperature is acceptable.) It is very important that the specimen remain at 37° C until after separation of plasma from red cells.

3. Send specimen in a plastic vial.

Additional Information: Label specimen appropriately (plasma).

Specimen Type: Serum

Container/Tube: Red top-Serum gel tube is not acceptable.

Specimen Volume: 5 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume: 2 mL

Collection Instructions:

1.  Draw 2 pre-warmed Red top tubes.  Tubes must remain at 37° C (for example on a heat pack) for 1 hour prior to centrifuging.

2. Allow blood to clot at 37° C.

3. Centrifuge at 37° C. (Do not use a refrigerated centrifuge. If necessary, ambient temperature is acceptable.) It is very important that the specimen remain at 37° C until after separation of serum from the red cells.

Additional Information:

1. Analysis cannot be performed with <2 mL of serum. Smaller volumes are insufficient to detect clinically important trace (mixed) cryoglobulins. Less than 2 mL will require draw of a new specimen.

2. Label specimen appropriately (serum).