Updated: 11/26/2025
Effective Date: December 3, 2025
What’s Changing?
The preferred specimen type for most outpatient Chemistry tests will change from: Lithium Heparin Gel PST (mint green-top with gel) to Serum Separator SST (gold-top with gel)
Gray-top tube (Potassium Oxalate & Sodium Fluoride) will now be the preferred tube for glucose testing. Gold-top SST will remain acceptable for glucose testing and preferred for panels that contain glucose testing.
Why the Change?
SST tubes provide improved specimen quality and stability, supporting more accurate test results.
Gray-top tubes contain additives that prevent glycolysis, ensuring more accurate glucose measurements.
Key Points
Gold-top SST is now the preferred tube for outpatient Chemistry specimens.
Light green-top PST will still be accepted for the respective tests.
Gray-top is the preferred tube for glucose testing; gold-top is acceptable and should still be used for panels containing glucose.
Resources
Updated Preferred Tube Quick Guide
(Note: This change only impacts West Michigan; Southeast and Southwest Michigan sites already use gold-top SST tubes for many of these tests.)
Questions?
Use the Contact Us link above.