TRANSPORT TEMPERATURE

Glycolysis decreases serum glucose by approximately 5% to 7% per hour in normal uncentrifuged, coagulated blood at room temperature. In separated, nonhemolyzed sterile serum, the glucose concentration is generally stable as long as 8 hours at 25 °C and up to 72 hours at 4 °C; variable stability is observed with longer storage conditions. Glycolysis can be inhibited and glucose stabilized for as long as 3 days at room temperature by addition of sodium iodoacetate or sodium fluoride (NaF) to the specimen.