1.0 ml Serum 2-8 ?C

Patient Preparation Fasting specimen is preferred. Melatonin concentration varies with light and dark cycle. The concentration is lower during the day and high at night. Patients treated with pituitary or steroid hormones influence the concentration. Hence, it should be discontinued for 2 days prior to the collection of samples. Ship specimen frozen in dry ice

3.0 ml EDTA Plasma Frozen Protected from light

Patient Preparation: Avoid seafood consumption for 48 hours prior to sample collection Carefully clean skin prior to venipuncture. Avoid worksite collection.

4.0 ml EDTA Blood, 2-8 ?C

Patient Preparation Avoid seafood consumption for 48 hours prior to collection Collection Instructions Avoid worksite collection. Collect urine in an acid-washed or metal-free plastic container.

10 ml urine 2-8 c

Patient Preparation Patients should be relaxed in either a supine or upright position before blood is drawn. Patient should avoid alcohol, coffee, tea, tobacco and strenuous exercise prior to collection. Overnight fasting is preferred.

4.0 ml ?EDTA Plasma 2-8 ?C

Patient Preparation It is preferable for the patient to be off medications for three days prior to collection. Patient should avoid tobacco, tea, coffee, for three days prior to specimen collection. Common antihypertensives (diuretics, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, alpha and beta blockers) cause minimal or no interference. Medications which are alpha agonists (Aldomet), alpha blockers (Dibenzyline) should be avoided 18-24 hours prior to specimen collection.

5.0 ml random urine with 6N HCL

20 ml random urine 2-8 ?C without preservative

2.0 ml ?Heparine whole blood 2-8 ?C

Patient Preparation Collect 24, 48, or 72 hours after dose Collection Instructions Protect from light. Record hours from last dose on specimen container and in the remark column on the test requisition.

2.0 ml serum Frozen

2.0 ml Serum 2-8 ?C

10.0 ml random urine 2-8 ?C

Collection Instructions Centrifuge serum specimens within 1 hour of collection

1.0 ml Serum 2-8 ?C

Collection Instructions Promptly centrifuge and separate serum or plasma into an acid-washed plastic screw-cap vial

2.0 ml serum/2.0 ml EDTA plasma 2- 8C

1.0 ml Serum 2-8 ?C

Sample

Collection Instructions Expectorated sputum: Instruct patient to gargle with water and cough deeply.

5 ml sputum collected in asteril, Leak-proof container 2-8C

Remove the swab from the packaging and swab any visible lesions. Withdraw the swab without touching the skin. Immediately place the swab into the transport tube so that the tip of the swab is visible below the tube label. Carefully break the swab shaft at the score line against the side of the tube and discard the top portion of the swab shaft. Tightly screw the cap onto the tube.

2.0 ml EDTA blood - 2-8 ?C

5.0 ml EDTA Blood 2-8 ?C

Collection Instructions An early morning specimen is preferred. Freeze immediately. Include the patient age with the requisition.

30 ml Urine Frozen

1.0 ml Serum 2-8 ?C

1.0 ml Serum 2-8 ?C

Patient Preparation Optimum time to collect sample: 0.5 to 1 hour before next dose (trough) at steady-state (3-5 days after treatment with oral doses).

2.0 ml Serum 2-8 ?C ( no gel separator)

1.0 ml Serum 2-8 ?C

Urine: Centrifuge urine at 3000 rpm for 15 minutes. Suspend sediment in VCM or equivalent transport media. If the specimen is not centrifuged, submit a 1:1 volume of urine in VCM or equivalent transport media. Submit a 1:1 volume of sterile body fluids, tissue, respiratory (sputum, bronchial washing, tracheobronchial secretions, bronchial alveolar lavage) in VCM or equivalent transport media. Respiratory samples are only acceptable from children under 1 year old.

Swab