HOMOCYSTEINE, CARDIOVASCULAR

Handling: 1 ML SERUM RED TOP TUBES: PLACE THE SPECIMEN IN THE REFRIGERATOR OR ICE BATH FOR 30 MINUTES AFTER COLLECTION. CENTRIFUGE THE SPECIMEN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER COMPLETE CLOT FORMATION. TRANSFER THE SERUM TO A PLASTIC SPECIMEN TRANSPORT TUBE. MARK THE SPECIMEN TYPE AS SERUM ON THE TRANSPORT TUBE. BARRIER GEL SEPARATOR TUBE: PLACE THE SPECIMEN IN A REFRIGERATOR FOR 30 MINUTES AFTER COLLECTION. DO NOT PLACE BARRIER TUBES IN AN ICE BATH AS FREEZING MAY PREVENT THE BARRIER GEL FROM ADEQUATELY SEPARATING FROM CELLS. CENTRIFUGE SPECIMEN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER COMPLETE CLOT FORMATION, ENSURING THAT THE BARRIER GEL COMPLETELY SEPARATES SERUM FROM CELLS. NOTE: IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO CENTRIFUGE AND SEPARATE SERUM OR PLASMA FROM RED BLOOD CELLS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID FALSELY ELEVATED RESULTS., 0.5 ML, REFRIGERATED 14 DAYS, FROZEN 6 MONTHS