Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Plasma

Container/Tube:

Preferred: Green top (Lithium heparin/PST)

Acceptable:  Serum (Red top, Gold/SST), Na Heparin Plasma (label specimen appropriately)

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL

Minimum: 0.25 ml

Collection Instructions:

1. Patient may be non-fasting. If fasting, do not exceed 14 hours.

2. Have patient drink 50 g of glucose beverage. Ingestion should be completed within 5 minutes.  Start timing when the patient begins to drink the glucose drink.

3. Draw blood 1 hour after ingestion of glucose beverage. Accurate timing is essential. 

4. Spin down and remove plasma from cells as soon as possible.

Additional Information: If patient vomits 30 minutes or more into test, test may be completed. Instruct patient to have nothing to eat or drink for duration of test. Patient may have ice chips to moisten mouth.