Collect: Plain red. Also acceptable: Lavender (K2 or K3EDTA) or pink (K2EDTA).
Specimen Preparation: Separate serum or plasma from cells within 2 hours of collection. Transfer 1 mL serum or plasma to an ARUP Standard Transport Tube. (Min: 0.5 mL)
Storage/Transport Temperature: Refrigerated.
Unacceptable Conditions: Whole blood. Gel separator tubes, light blue (citrate), or yellow (SPS or ACD solution).
Stability (collection to initiation of testing): After separation from cells: Ambient: 5 days; Refrigerated: 5 days; Frozen: 5 days
Reference Interval:
Nonsmoker: 1-4 µg/mL Smoker: 3-12 µg/mL Toxic: > 50 µg/mL Values seen with nitroprusside therapy: 6-29 µg/mL
