Drug Level Concentrations
Trough
The lowest concentration in the patient's bloodstream. Specimen is collected just before the administration of the drug/medication.
Peak
The highest concentration in the patient's bloodstream. Specimen is collected just after the administration of the drug/medication. Collection may require a specific time frame see individual test.
Random
Random levels may be ordered and are apporpriate for monitoring continuous use of a drug/medication.
Specimen Requirement Definitions
Blood Specimens
Serum
Please draw blood in the appropriate color-coded tube. These tubes do not contain an anticoagulant but should be gently inverted 8-10 times. Allow the blood to remain at ambient temperature for 30 minutes, but no longer than one hour. Centrifuge at 2500 rpm for at least 10 minutes. Send the laboratory the gold serum separator tube. Process the plain red top tubes according to the assay requirements listed in the alphabetical test directory.
Acute and Convalescent Serum
Collect blood as listed above for serum, no more than 5-7 days after onset of illness. This is the acute specimen, refrigerate specimen. The convalescent specimen should be collected 14-21 days after the onset of the illness and refrigerate.
Plasma
Please draw blood in the appropriate color-coded tube. These tubes contain an anticoagulant to prevent clotting. After the tube is filled please gently invert the tube 8-10 times. Centrifuge and remove plasma. Store blood at the recommended temperature until the courier arrives.
Clotted Whole Blood
Please draw the blood in the appropriate color-coded tube. These tubes do not contain an anticoagulant. After the tube is filled please gently invert the tube 8-10 times. Store at the recommended temperature until courier arrives.
Whole Blood
Please draw the appropriate color-coded tube. These tubes contain an anticoagulant to prevent clotting. After the tube is filled please gently invert the tube 8-10 times. Store blood at the recommended temperature until the courier arrives.
Platelet-poor Plasma
Platelet-Poor Plasma (PPP) is blood plasma with very low number of platelets (< 10 X 10 3 /μL). An initial sample of whole blood is taken from a donor, centrifuged to separate into three distinct layers: the lowest layer contains red blood cells, the middle layer, also called the buffy coat, contains a high concentration of white blood cells, and the topmost layer contains a mixture of platelets and white blood cells, and the spun a second time. The second centrifuge spin pulls the platelets to the bottom of the tube, leaving the platelet-poor plasma on top.
Stool Specimens
Collect the stool in a sterile leak proof container or into a clean bedpan. Do not pass the stool into the toilet. Do not urinate on the specimen. Transfer the required amount of stool into the proper container or transport media. Please note the special time frames for each individual test listed in the alphabetical listings.
Urine Specimens
Random specimen: Urine should be collected in a sterile urine container and transferred to a urine vial. Best results are obtained on "First AM" specimens. This specimen needs to be refrigerated until the courier arrives.
Timed specimens: At the beginning of the test period the patient should be instructed to completely empty the bladder. The test begins at this time and the subsequent specimens should be collected and time noted on each specimen container. Example Doe, John 1/14/00, 3 hr. specimen
24-Hour specimen: Instruct the patient what time collection is to be started, i.e.. 8:00 AM At this time, the patient should empty their bladder and discard the urine. All urine thereafter should be collected for 24 hours and the bladder should be emptied 24 hours after collection was started, i.e.. at 8:00 AM the following day and this urine should be saved. Follow directions provided in the alphabetized test listing for proper storage for specimen during and after collection.