Serologic Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type	Specimen Age	Container	Shipping Conditions	Recommended Volume²
Serum (Toxoplasma and Covid)	Up to one week when stored refrigerated; Indefinite when stored frozen	Serum-Separator tube or red-top tube (Centrifuge specimen and if possible, send serum only)	Cold pack or frozen preferred 20-25^oC acceptable; Overnight delivery	3 ml
CSF (Toxoplasma)	Up to one week when stored refrigerated; Indefinite when stored frozen	Sterile tube	Cold pack or frozen preferred 20-25^oC acceptable; Overnight delivery	1 ml

Our specimen requirement for serologic testing is 3 ml of serum from a serum-separator tube or a red-top tube (minimum 0.5 ml, but this quantity may be insufficient for repeat testing). Please centrifuge the specimen, and if possible, send serum only. Grossly hemolyzed, icteric, lipemic, and bacterially contaminated specimens cannot be tested. Serum specimens can be sent at ambient temperature.
THE PATIENT'S NAME AND COLLECTION DATE MUST APPEAR ON SPECIMEN LABEL. Unlabelled specimens will not be tested.
Please contact our laboratory at (650) 853-4828 for specimens that do not meet these requirements. For specimens not meeting our requirements, testing can still be performed when authorized by the client.
Please contact our laboratory at (650) 853-4828 for specimens that are less than the recommended volume. Specimens received with less than recommended volumes may be insufficient for repeat testing.

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