Sterile vial/container and Gold serum separator (SST) tube

• Serum and CSF specimens should be collected within 24 hrs of each other
• Serum is required; testing will not be performed if no serum is available
• If samples are collected more than 48 hours apart, pathology approval is required

Gold:

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

Serum:

Gold serum separator (SST) tube

CSF:

Sterile vial/container

Serum:

Red serum vial/tube, 10 mL

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

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

Serum:

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

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

Refrigerated (preferred) - 14 days

Frozen (OK) - 1 month

• 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)

Benzethonium Chloride, Nephelometry, Isoelectric Focusing

See report