Samples should not be taken from patients receiving therapy with high biotin doses (i.e. > 5 mg/day) until at least 8 hours following the last biotin administration.

Gold serum separator (SST) tube

or

Red serum vial/tube, 5 mL

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

Gold:

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

Gold serum separator (SST) tube

or

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

Lt green plasma separator (PST)

Immediatley following collection, mix sample thoroughly by gently inverting 8 - 10, times to prevent clotting

Spin within two (2) hours of sample collection

Lt green plasma separator (PST) 

Refrigerated (preferred) - 2 days   

Ambient - 1 day                                              

Frozen - 6 months

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

Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA)