Specimen Requirements

Patient Preparation

1. Consult physician for specific orders.
2. Patient should discontinue medication 3 days prior to test, if possible.
3. Patient should be instructed to eat and drink nothing except water for 10 to 14 hours prior to test.
4. Patient should be instructed to refrain from smoking and drinking coffee just before and during test.
 
Procedure
1. Patient must be fasting (8-12 hour).
2. Draw baseline glucose. If glucose is <126 mg/dL, then administer 100 g dextrose drink.

3. Draw specimen 1 hour, 2 hour, and 3 hour post-dextrose administration.

Preferred: Plasma (heparinized)

Container/tube: Lt Green/Mint top (lithium heparin) tube

Acceptable: Serum

Container: Plain, red-top or gold, serum gel tube

Specimen Volume:   1.0 mL (minimum volume 0.2 mL)

Collection Instructions: Forward promptly.

Note:  Label specimens appropriately (corresponding draw time).