· Centrifugation and refrigerated/frozen storage must occur within 24 hours of collection for either sample type.
· EDTA plasma samples may be centrifuged immediately after collection.
· If serum is inadvertently collected (see note below), complete clot formation should take place before centrifugation.
· After centrifugation, physically separate plasma/serum from the red cells and send aliquot for analysis.
· Specimens must be free of particulate matter including fibrin.
Note: Serum can only be used for initial HIV testing, it cannot be used for Mayo HVDIP confirmation
testing of REACTIVE samples.
If REACTIVE, Mayo Medical Labs will require an additional 1 mL of EDTA plasma.