SPECIMEN PROCESSING and HANDLING

Patients should be relaxed in either a supine or upright position before blood is drawn. States of anxiety and stress can cause fluctuations in the catecholamine levels. Draw specimen in a pre-chilled green-top vacutainer. Plasma should be separated in a refrigerated centrifuge within 30 minutes of collection and then frozen immediately at -20° C in plastic vials. Each specimen will be invoiced separately.