Table 2.

Blood specimen collection and processing. GuLF STUDY 2011–2013.

Blood collection tube	Order of draw	N (%) of participants (n=11,193)	Processing in home	Dispositiona	Shipment temperature	Long-term storage temperatureb
Red top tube (2×10 mL)	1, 2	10,383 (92.8)	Centrifuge	Serum	4°C	LN2
				Clot	4°C	−80°C
Lavender top EDTA tubes
10 mL	3	10,281 (91.9)	Centrifuge	Plasma	4°C	LN2
				Packed cells	4°C	LN2
2 mL	6	10,171 (90.1)	None	HVS: Stored	Ambient	LN2
				BSS: CBC analysis	Ambient	N/A
6 mL	7	10,154 (90.7)	Centrifuge	Plasma	4°C	LN2
				Packed cells	4°C	LN2
Yellow top ACD-B tube (6 mL)	4	10,247 (91.5)	None	HVS: 10% DMSO added, step frozen	Ambient	LN2
				BSS: lymphocytes isolated, 10% DMSO added, step frozen	Ambient	N/A
Royal blue top EDTA tube (6mL)	5	10,212 (91.2)	None	Stored	4°C	−20°C
PAXgene RNA tube (2.5 mL)	8	10,079 (90.0)	None	Stored	4°C	−20°C

^aHVS=Home Visit Subcohort; BSS=Biomedical Surveillance Subcohort

^bLN2=vapor phase of liquid nitrogen