Hepatitis C RNA TMA Qual

LAB1987

3mL Lavender EDTA

0.6 mL

Plasma: Collect blood in sterile tubes containing EDTA anticoagulant; either 0.15% solution v/v final EDTA K3 (standard EDTA tube) or 9 mg spray-dried EDTA K2 (Plasma Preparation Tube or PPT tube with plasma separator-gel, preferred). Blood collected in tubes containing ACD anticoagulant are acceptable, but will yield results approximately 15% lower, when compared to EDTA tubes, due to the dilution effect of the 1.5 mL of anticoagulant used in the tube. Store whole blood at room temperature and separate plasma from cells within 6 hours of collection. Transfer plasma to sterile, plastic, screw-capped aliquot tubes and store at -18° C or colder. Do not clarify plasma by filtration or further centrifugation. Avoid repeated freezing and thawing of specimen. Serum: Collect blood in sterile tubes with no anticoagulants; serum separator tubes (SS) are recommended. Allow blood to clot at room temperature and separate serum from cells within 6 hours of collection. Transfer serum to sterile, plastic screw-capped, aliquot tubes and store -18° C or colder. Avoid repeated freezing and thawing of specimen. Note: If blood is collected in a PPT tube, centrifuge within 6 hours of collection as before, but it is not necessary to transfer the plasma to aliquot tubes. Following centrifugation, a gel barrier maintains separation of plasma from cellular components during specimen transport and storage, and unlike standard Vacutainer Brand blood collection tubes, the PPT tube is plastic and hence the plasma can be shipped and stored frozen in the original tube.

Frozen

Room temperature: 72 hours
Refrigerated: 14 days
Frozen: 42 days