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Test ID: FC3AL
C3a Level

Specimen Type Describes the specimen type needed for testing

Plasma EDTA

Specimen Required Defines the optimal specimen. This field describes the type of specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing. The volume allows automated processing, fastest throughput and, when indicated, repeat or reflex testing.

Draw blood in a lavender-top (EDTA) tube. (No alternate specimen is acceptable.) Mix well, centrifuge at ambient temperature within 1 hour of draw, and freeze immediately. Send 1 mL of EDTA plasma frozen in plastic vial. If specimen cannot be separated within 1 hour of draw, place on wet ice, and spin down in a refrigerated centrifuge.

Specimen Minimum Volume Defines the amount of specimen required to perform an assay once, including instrument and container dead space. Submitting the minimum specimen volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory or perform reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum specimen volume may result in a QNS (quantity not sufficient) result, requiring a second specimen to be collected.

0.5 mL

Reject Due To Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected

Specimens other than Plasma
Anticoagulants other than EDTA
Hemolysis NA
Lipemia NA
Icteric NA

Specimen Stability Information Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the laboratory. Alternate acceptable temperature(s) are also included.

Specimen TypeTemperatureTime
Plasma EDTAFrozen