Vitamin C

Preferred: 3 mL GREEN TOP tube. - Note time of collection.

Also acceptable: 3 mL blood in LAVENDER TOP, RED TOP , LIME Green PST, sarstedt or SST or 5 mL blood in PEARL PPT tube

FHCC locations:

• Preferred: 5 mL LAVENDER TOP tube. Note time of collection.
• Not acceptable: 3 mL GREEN TOP, RED TOP, Sarstedt or SST or PEARL PPT tube due to extended transport time to testing location.

Note: Fasting is recommended.

The Laboratory MUST process the plasma from a LAVENDER TOP within 5 hours of blood collection.

The Laboratory MUST process the plasma or serum from a GREEN TOP, RED TOP, LIME GREEN PST, or SST within 2 hours of blood collection.

Centrifuge specimen, give "unopened" tube to Stat Lab with polyprop tube labeled QVITC. Stat Lab will make a filtrate & return both filtrate tube to be frozen at -20°C & original Lavender tube to SPS.

Note: The original tube received for VITC will always be returned to SPS to be used for further testing - if necessary. If not needed put in Clot Rack.

Note2: Exposure to air MUST be kept to minimum or VITC deteriorates

Outside Laboratories: if you are unable to transport the specimen to UW-MT or HMC Lab Medicine within 4 hours you can make the filtrate on site as follows: Centrifuge Lavender top Unopened. Open tube just before pipetting. Prepare filtrate by adding 50 mcL MPA/DTT precipitating agent to 500 mcL of plasma. Vortex for 30 seconds (timing critical) and store Frozen at -20°C[The metaphosphoric acid/dithiothreitol (MPA/DTT) Precipitating Reagent is available from Stat Toxicology at HMC 206 744-3451. The reagent is stable six months if frozen. Once thawed and refrigerated, it is stable one week.]