Specimen Collection

PLASMA TEST ONLY: Patient Specimen :One 5 mL heparin tube on ice, sent to the Lab within one hour

Vitamin C

5 mL Adult Heparin Blood (Always Required)

2 mL Paediatric Micro-heparin Blood
Reference Intervals

Reference interval is provided with report.

Turnaround Time: Between 3 weeks and 4 weeks
Diagnostic Use and Interpretation

To test for vitamin C deficiency (scurvy).

As ascorbate is unstable, falsely low levels may be seen if samples do not reach the laboratory on ice, within two hours of sampling.

Contact Information

Emails to chemicalpathologist@adhb.govt.nz will receive priority attention from the on-call chemical pathologist.

If the query concerns a specific patient please include the NHI number in your email.

If email is not a suitable option, please contact the on-call chemical pathologist via Lablink (Auckland City Hospital ext. 22000 or 09-3078995).

Individual chemical pathologists may be contacted but will not be available at all times.

After-hours : contact Lablink (Auckland City Hospital ext. 22000 or 09-3078995) or hospital operator for on duty staff after hours.

Dr Samarina Musaad (Clinical Lead) : SamarinaM@adhb.govt.nz ext. 22402

Dr Cam Kyle: CampbellK@adhb.govt.nz ext 22052

Dr Weldon Chiu: WeldonC@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427

Dr Campbell Heron: CHeron@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427

Dr Sakunthala Jayasinghe: Sakunthala@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427

Specimen Transport Instructions for Referring Laboratories

Spin and separate, freeze within 2 hrs of collection. Protect from light once separated

The sample separation and subsequent freezing prior to sending to CHL is time critical

Transport at -20 ^o C

Last updated at 15:26:00 06/01/2025