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: 1 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Draw blood from a fasting patient.

Note: If fasting glucose is >150 mg/dL, notify physician before proceeding with test.

2. Have patient drink 75 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 2 hours after ingestion of glucose beverage. Accurate timing is essential. 

4. Spin down, remove plasma from cells as soon as possible, and send plasma for each draw interval.
5. Label specimen appropriately (corresponding draw time).

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.