COBS – “Cobalt, Serum”

Update to specimen requirements and alternate specimen

Patient Preparation: Diet, medication, and nutritional supplements may introduce interfering substances. Patients should be encouraged to discontinue nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals and nonessential over-the-counter medications (upon the advice of their physician).

Collect: Dark blue trace element no additive

Specimen Preparation: Centrifuge and separate serum from cells within 2 hours of collection. Send 2.0 mL serum room temperature in a blue capped ARUP metal-free screw capped plastic vial. Please contact laboratory for metal-free screw capped plastic vials. Specimens in other containers will be rejected. Do not use utensils (i.e., syringes, needles, or pipettes) in the collection or transfer of the sample, pour directly into transport tube.

Alternate Specimen: Plasma: Dark blue trace element (K2EDTA), Dark blue sodium heparin