Specimen Type/Requirements

Grey top (Sodium Fluoride) tube - Plasma (preferred)

Gold top (Serum w/gel) tube - Serum

Red top (Serum w/out gel) tube - Serum

Light Green top (Lithium Heparin w/gel) tube - Plasma

Overnight fasting is required.  Separate serum/plasma from cells within 1 hour of collection.

Properly label each specimen with date and time. 

Give 75 gram oral glucose load after drawing fasting specimen. 

Children are to be given 1.75 gram oral glucose dose per kilogram of body weight.  Do not exceed 75 gram glucose dose.  Once the child has reached 95 pounds, the normal adult dosage is given.

Test is affected by gross hemolysis.  Test is not affected by lipemia.