Patient should be fasting 8-12 hours prior to collection of B12, however, non-fasting specimens will be accepted.

Fasting for a blood test

Gold serum separator (SST) tube

Immediately following collection, thoroughly mix sample by gently inverting 5 times

1. Allow sample to clot for a minimum of 30 minutes
2. Spin within one (1) hour of sample collection

Gold serum separator (SST) tube

Lt green plasma separator (PST)

Red serum vial/tube, 5 mL

Red serum vial/tube, 10 mL

Red/grey serum separator (SST) vial/tube, 10 mL

Lt green:

Immediately following collection, mix sample thoroughly by gentle inverting 8 - 10 times to prevent clotting

Lt green:

Spin within one (1) hour of sample collection

Red:

1. Allow sample to clot
2. Spin
3. Transfer serum to a False bottom plasma/serum transport vial/tube (AHL), labelled as serum, within one (1) hour of sample collection

Lt green plasma separator (PST)

False bottom plasma/serum transport vial/tube (AHL)

Red/grey serum separator (SST) vial/tube, 10 mL

Refrigerated (preferred) - 48 hours

Ambient - 6 hours

Frozen - 56 days

• Improper labels (unlabeled or mislabeled)
• Hemolysis 
• Improper anticoagulant or ratio
• Delay in transport
• Improper storage temperature affecting results
• Improper container
• Leaking container resulting in compromised specimen
• Quantity not sufficient (QNS)

Competitive Electrochemiluminsense Immunoassay (ECLIA)

232 - 1245 pg/mL