Specimen:

Plasma

Collection Medium:

Alternate
Collection Media:

Call laboratory for additional acceptable specimen collection 
containers.

Minimum:

3 ml; lavender top (or one 2 ml lavender top for pediatric
patients) lavendar top must be half full.

Rejection Criteria:

Syringe is not acceptable.

Testing
Schedule:

24 hrs/day, 7 days a week, including holidays.

Analytic Time:

1 hour (upon receipt in laboratory)

Reference Range:

7-42 mcmol/l

Test
Limitations:

Criterion: recovery within plus or minus 10% of initial values

Icterus: No interference up to an I index of 60 (approximate conjugated 
and unconjugated bilirubin concentration: 60 mg/dl).

Hemolysis: No interference up to an H index of 50 (approximate 
hemoglobin concentration: 50 mg/dl).

Lipemia (Intralipid): No interference up to an L index of 170.  There 
is poor correlation between turbidity and triglycerides concentration. 
Absorbance flagging may also be observed as a result of an absorbance 
increase.

Methodology:

Enzymatic

Sample
Processing:

Centrifuge at 3000 RPM for 10 minutes.
Aliquot plasma into plastic container and cap (glass is not 
acceptable).
Specimen must be frozen immediately.
Label transport tube with two patient identifiers, date and time of 
collection.

Sample
Storage:

Freeze specimen immediately.

Transport
Instructions:

Place specimen into zip-lock type bag, seal bag.
Place requisition into outside pocket of bag.
Place dry ice on top of specimen in styrofoam container.

Instructions:

Draw sample and place on ice.  Specimen should be spun and the plasma 
aliquotted and frozen as soon as possible after the draw.

CPT Code:

82140