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 |
a
HVS=Home Visit Subcohort; BSS=Biomedical Surveillance Subcohort
b
LN2=vapor phase of liquid nitrogen