Specimen Collection & Preparation

PLAC Test For Lp-PLA2 - Automated Chemistry Analyzers

Sample Collection

Collect blood samples in a serum or plasma collection tube, including those with a gel separator.
Process samples using standard separation procedures.
- Centrifuge and separate samples within four hours of venipuncture.
Store processed samples refrigerated at 2-8°C.
Transfer processed sample to test lab within 24 hours.
- If transporting the sample, ship overnight on cold packs sufficient to maintain 2-8°C or frozen (on dry ice).

Precautions

Exposure of samples to room temperature should be minimized to less than 6 hours (including blood draw, processing, transport and laboratory sample analysis time).
Storage at -20°C is not recommended.

Accession and Testing at Lab Site

There are several options for the handling and storage of processed samples. Adopt the option that best suits your laboratory.

Option #1: Transport samples at 2-8ºC. Store samples at 2-8ºC.
- Samples must be stored refrigerated at 2-8ºC for a minimum of 3 days after sample is drawn before testing can occur.
- Samples should be tested between the 3rd and 10th day after the sample is drawn when stored at 2-8ºC.
Option #2: Transport samples at 2-8ºC. Freeze samples at or below -20ºC overnight (16-24 hours). Thaw and store samples at 2-8ºC.
- Samples must be frozen at or below -20ºC overnight (16-24 hours) anytime up to 3 days (≤72 hours) after the sample is drawn. Once frozen, samples must be thawed the following day.
- Do not freeze at -20ºC for more than 24 hours. Longer storage at -20ºC is not recommended.
- Samples may be tested as soon as they are thawed but no longer than 10 days after the sample is drawn when stored at 2-8ºC.
Option #3: Transport samples frozen (on dry ice).
- Samples must be frozen for 16-24 hours.
- Samples can be thawed and tested up to 10 days after the sample is drawn when stored at 2-8ºC.
Option #4: For longer term storage, freeze samples at or below -70ºC.
- Samples must be frozen for minimum of overnight (16-24 hours).
- Samples can be tested as soon as they are thawed.
- Once thawed, the sample can be tested up to 7 days when stored at 2-8ºC.
- Samples may be frozen and thawed twice without affecting the Lp-PLA₂ quantitation.

Sample Collection

Collect blood samples in a serum or plasma collection tube, including those with a gel separator.
Process samples using standard separation procedures.
- Centrifuge and separate samples within four hours of venipuncture.
Store processed samples refrigerated at 2-8° C.
Transfer processed sample to test lab within 24 hours.
- If transporting the sample, ship overnight on cold packs sufficient to maintain 2-8° C or frozen (on dry ice).

Precautions

Exposure of samples to room temperature should be minimized to less than 6 hours (including blood draw, processing and transport time). This does not include incubation on the ELISA plate.
Storage at -20°C is not recommended.

Accession and Testing at Lab Site

Samples must be stored refrigerated at 2-8ºC for a minimum of 24 hours after the sample is drawn before testing can occur.
Samples can be tested up to 7 days after the sample is drawn when stored at
2-8ºC.
For longer term storage, serum/plasma samples must be stored at or below -70ºC. Once thawed, the sample can be tested up to 7 days when stored at
2-8ºC. Samples may be frozen and thawed up to 6 times without affecting the
Lp-PLA₂ quantitation.

Refer to PLAC Test Reagent Kit package insert for full recommendations on sample collection and storage.