Specimen Required

Specimen # 1 collection must occur between 10 weeks, 0 days and 13 weeks, 6 days gestation. If gestational age is based on Crown-Rump length (CRL), the specimen must be collected when the CRL is between 32.4 - 83.9 mm.

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Red top

Acceptable: Serum gel

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Draw blood in a plain red-top tube(s), serum gel tube(s) is acceptable.

2. Within 2 hours of collection, centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.

3. Ship refrigerate.

Note:

Submit with order: Patient's date of birth, current weight, number of fetuses present, patient's race, if the patient was diabetic at the time of conception, if there is a known family history of neural tube defects, if the patient has had a previous pregnancy with a trisomy, if the patient is currently smoking, if the patient is taking valproic acid or carbamazepine (Tegretol), if this is a repeat sample, and the age of the egg donor if in vitro fertilization.

In addition to the above:

If an NT measurement is performed: the date of ultrasound, the CRL measurement, the nuchal translucency (NT) measurement and the name and certification number of the sonographer are required. NT must be measured when the CRL is between 38-83.9mm. The NT measurement must be performed by an ultrasonographer that is certified by the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF).

OR

If no NT measurement is performed: a due date or CRL measurement with the date of ultrasound is required.

See the PATIENT HISTORY FOR MATERNAL SERUM TESTING form.