Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive at Shodair Children’s Hospital within 24 hours of draw. Contact Billings Clinic Laboratory at 866-232-2522 to discuss the best specimen transport.

• Draw a full, green-top (sodium heparin) tube, and send 5 mL of sodium heparin whole blood.
• Invert several times to mix blood.
• Forward unprocessed whole blood promptly at ambient temperature only.
• Specimen cannot be frozen.
• Protect specimen from extreme temperatures.
• When shipping, try to keep specimen as close to room temperature as possible.
• Reason for referral plus relevant clinical and family information, date of birth, sex, and diagnosis are required on request form for processing and to provide correct interpretation of test results.