Specimen Collection and Handling

Collect specimen as follows:

1. Draw blood in light blue-top (3.2% sodium citrate) tubes. Tubes must be full upon collection.

2. Separate plasma from cells as soon as possible within 4 hours of collection in a centrifuge at 2,500 rpm for 15 minutes or 3,000 rpm for 10 minutes.

3. Using a plastic transfer pipette (do not use a glass pipette) decant the plasma to a screw-capped, plastic (polypropylene) vial. Glass vials will not be accepted.

4. Spin the plasma again at 2,500 rpm for 15 minutes or 3,000 rpm for 10 minutes. Note: Double spinning the specimen ensures platelet poor plasma (<10,000 uL)

5. Divide the plasma into as many 0.5-1.0 mL aliquots as possible and cap the vial(s) tightly.

6. Place tubes upright and flash freeze specimen(s) immediately at ≤ – 20° C or below.

7. Send specimen(s) FROZEN on dry ice.

Click here to view the Procedure for Collecting a Specimen from an A-line