Specimen Required

Patient Preparation:

1. Disinfectants (such as Betadine) that contain iodine should not be used during venipuncture.

2. High concentrations of gadolinium and iodine may interfere with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry-based metal tests. If either gadolinium- or iodine-containing contrast media has been administered, the specimen should not be collected for at least 96 hours.

Supplies:

-Metal Free B-D Tube (No Additive), 6 mL (T184)

-Metal Free Specimen Vial (T173)

Collection Container/Tube: Plain, royal blue-top Vacutainer plastic trace element blood collection tube

Submission Container/Tube:  Mayo metal-free, screw-capped, polypropylene vial

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Allow specimen to clot for 30 minutes; then centrifuge the specimen to separate serum from the cellular fraction.

2. Remove the stopper. Carefully pour specimen into Mayo metal-free, polypropylene vial, avoiding transfer of the cellular components of blood. Do not insert a pipet into the serum to accomplish transfer, and do not ream the specimen with a wooden stick to assist with serum transfer.

3. See Trace Metals Analysis Specimen Collection and Transport for complete instructions.