Specimen Requirements

Serum or Plasma

Container: SST tube or Green top Lithium heparin

Specimen Collection: 1 mL (minimum 0.5 mL)

1. Allow specimen to clot completely if  a serum tube (SST) was used.
2. Separate serum (SST) or plasma (Lithium Heparin) from cells within 24 hours and transport refrigerated. If red top tube is collected, separate serum from cells within 2 hours and place in separate plastic tube.
3. Properly label tube with patients name, DOB, requisition number and type of tube, i.e. GREEN.

Alternate Specimens: FT4: plasma from heparinized sample.

                                     TSH: plasma from lithium heparin or tripotassium EDTA