Special chemistry

Patient preparation: OVERNIGHT FASTING (8-12HRS). FASTING MEANS THAT ONLY WATER AND PRESCRIBED MEDICATION ARE PERMITTED DURING THE FASTING PERIOD. Sample type: SERUM Container/ preservative: SERUM SEPARATOR TUBE (SST/ GEL) OR PLAIN (RED TOP) VACUTAINER. Sample volume: AT LEAST 2ML. Other Instructions: CENTRIFUGE SST (SERUM GEL TUBES) WITHIN 1-2 HOURS OF COLLECTION. CENTRIFUGE RED TOP VACUTAINERS AND ALIQUOT SERUM WITHIN 1-2 HOURS OF COLLECTION. THE SEPARATION VIAL MUST BE LABELED WITH AT LEAST 2 PATIENT IDENTIFIERS AND THE SAMPLE TYPE. SHIPPING/ TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS Shipping Temperature: Refrigerated ANALYTE STABILITY Room Temperature: 8 HOURS at 20-25°C │ Refrigerated: 7 DAYS at 2-8°C │ Frozen: 1 MONTHS at -20°C

3ml of Serum in Gel/Plain Vacutainer, 2–8 °C for up to 72 hours; freeze at −20 °C or below for longer storage, refrigerated with cold packs; frozen samples on dry ice. SHIPPING/ TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS Shipping Temperature: Refrigerated ANALYTE STABILITY Room Temperature: 1 DAYS at 20-25°C │ Refrigerated: 14 DAYS at 2-8°C │ Frozen: 1 YEAR at -20°C"

TEST ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS Fill out test request form fully & legibly. Results are posture dependant. Specify whether collection was done in supine or upright position. If possible, antihypertensives and diuretics should be stopped 1-2weeks prior to sample collection. PATIENT PREPARATION: Should be ambulatory or upright for at least 2 hours prior to sample collection. Should rest for 15 minutes before sample collection. SAMPLE TYPE: Serum (frozen) CONTAINER/ PRESERVATIVE: serum separator tube (SST/ gel) or plain (red top) vacutainer. SAMPLE VOLUME: At least 3mL REJECTION CRITERIA Labelling issue (unlabeled/ mislabeled); samples at room temperature; missing request form; mismatch between request form & sample details; missing age/ gender; wrong sample type; insufficient sample. OTHER INSTRUCTIONS Centrifuge SST (serum gel tubes) within 1-2 hours of collection. Centrifuge red top vacutainers and aliquot serum within 1-2 hours of collection. The separation vial must be labelled with at least 2 patient identifiers and the sample type. SHIPPING/ TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS Shipping Temperature: Frozen preferred. STABILITY IN SERUM/PLASMA Room Temperature: 8 hours at 20-25°C │ Refrigerated: 4 days at 2-8°C │ Frozen: 30 days at -20°C

Serum in plain tube (red top) or SST tube (yellow top) or in a separation vial. Centrifuge tubes within 1 hour. Separate centrifuged serum in plain tubes within 1 hour. SHIPPING/ TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS Shipping Temperature: Refrigerated ANALYTE STABILITY Room Temperature: 1 DAY at 20-25°C │ Refrigerated: 3 DAYS at 2-8°C │ Frozen: 1 YEAR at -20°C

Serum in plain tube (red top) or SST tube (yellow top) or in a separation vial. Centrifuge tubes within 1 hour. Separate centrifuged serum in plain tubes within 1 hour. SHIPPING/ TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS Shipping Temperature: Frozen ANALYTE STABILITY Room Temperature: 2 WEEKS at 20-25°C Frozen: 5 MONTHS at -20°C

2ml of Serum in Gel or Plain vacutainer

Serum collected using a serum separator tube (SST) or a plain red-top tube. Allow the sample to clot at room temperature for 30-60 minutes. Centrifuge the sample within 1 hour to separate the serum from the clot.

3mL frozen EDTA plasma. SHIPPING/ TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS Shipping Temperature: Frozen ANALYTE STABILITY Room Temperature: 1 day at 20-25°C │ Refrigerated: 2 days at 2-8°C │ Frozen: 1 month at -20°C

3ml of Serum in Gel or Plain vacutainer

10-12 hr fasting preferred. Serum in plain tube (red top) or SST tube (yellow top) or in a separation vial. Centrifuge tubes within 1 hour. Separate centrifuged serum in plain tubes within 1 hour. TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE ANALYTE. Frozen (preferred) . Refrigerated acceptable. Ambient (room) temperature not acceptable.