Laboratory Notes:

Specimen reception staff:
Sample must be separated and the plasma frozen in 2 aliquots as soon as possible after collection (MUST be frozen within 2 hrs of collection)
 
External Pathology Providers:
Sample processing and handling is CRITICAL. Samples must be separated and the plasma frozen into 2 separate aliquots of approx 100uL as soon as possible after collection (MUST be frozen within 2 hrs of collection).  As complement activates easily (falsely elevating the sC5b-9 result), once the samples are frozen, they MUST remain frozen and NOT be allowed to partially thaw. They MUST be sent covered with sufficient dry ice to ensure they remain completely frozen during transportation to RCH.

Non-RCH patients:

Non-MBS charge of $160