Instructions for Serum Specimen Submission
General Information
The detection of free prostate specific antigen in human serum and plasma is performed using a Roche cobas i58 analyzer. However, serum specimens are preferred.
Specimens must be collected and stored at 2-8°C if to be analyzed within 5 days and stored at -20°C if to be analyzed within 3 months. Please be aware that storing specimens at ≤ -70°C (≤ -94°F) is not permissible.
Specimens MUST be received at Reditus Laboratories within 5 days of collection.
Collection Instructions for Serum Specimen
- Do not use expired collection tubes. Store collection tubes as per manufacturers recommendations. Use standard venipuncture practices for collecting samples. Filled gold top serum tubes are preferred.
- Ensure that the patient’s name, date-of-birth, and time/date of collection are recorded on the specimen tube along with the name or initials of the individual collecting the sample.
- Complete all the demographic information on a sample requisition form through the approved electronic submission process
- Refrigerate the specimen between 2-8°C (36-46°F) and ship or courier the specimen(s) within 48 hours.
- The specimen(s) must be received at the laboratory no later than 48 hours from the time of collection.
- Avoid shipping specimens over weekends or holidays as they may not be received at the laboratory and cold-packs will not maintain the required 2-8°C (36-46°F) specimen temperature.
- Ensure that specimens shipped by commercial carrier are shipped with overnight delivery. If shipping on a Friday for Saturday delivery, you must include Saturday Delivery during shipment, or the specimens will not be received until the following non-holiday business day. Failure to receive specimens within 24 hours of shipment will result in specimens being rejected from testing.
- For any questions pertaining to sample collection, storage, or shipping, please contact the Reditus Laboratories using the below contact information.
Instructions for Specimen Transport
- Messenger/Courier by ground transport. Place specimen(s) into a biohazard labeled bag and seal securely. Place the test requisition(s) on the outside of the biohazard labeled bag. Place the sealed biohazard bag and test requisition(s) inside the shipping container. Place cold packs, which have been frozen for at least 24 hours, in the leak-proof outer container. The shipping container must be rigid, such as a Styrofoam cooler, and labeled with the UN 3373 Biological Substance Category B marking. Close securely.
- Commercial carrier by ground/air transport. Place the specimen(s) inside a biohazard labeled bag and seal securely. Place the test requisition(s) on the outside of the biohazard labeled bag. Place the sealed bag and completed test requisitions(s) inside the outer shipping container. Place cold packs, which have been frozen for at least 24 hours, in the leak-proof outer container. Label the outer shipping container with Reditus Laboratories address listed below. Complete the return address section to include the name of the person shipping the package, business name and address, and a business phone number. The shipping container must include the UN3373 Biological Substance Category B marking.
- Ship specimens by overnight delivery to the attention of Clinical Chemistry at Reditus Laboratories. This can be accomplished by use of local courier, shipping corporations or U.S. Postal Service.
- If specimens are shipped on a Friday for Saturday delivery, you must include/indicate Saturday delivery during shipment, or the specimens will not be received until the following non-holiday business day. Failure to receive specimens within 24 hours of shipment will result in specimens being rejected from testing.
- The specimen(s) must be received at the laboratory no later than 48 hours from the time of collection and 24 hours from the time of shipment. Do not ship specimens over weekends or holidays as they will not be received, and cold-packs will not maintain the required 2-8°C (36-46°F) specimen temperature.
NOTE: Testing may be delayed, or specimens may be considered UNSATISFACTORY if the above instructions are not followed or the requisition form is not filled out completely. If there are any questions about specimen collection, handling, or shipping please contact the Reditus Laboratories to speak with laboratory personnel.
Ship specimens by a local courier or overnight by commercial carrier to the designated laboratories indicated below.
Send to: Reditus Laboratories
200 Enterprise Drive
Pekin, IL 61554
Phone: (469) 498-0222
Website: https://redituslabs.com/