Creatine, Serum

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB1231958, Beaker: CREATINE, SE, Quest: 37091

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

Caution: Please be careful not to confuse Creatine, Serum with the in-house Creatinine, Serum.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One plain Red-top tube.
Not acceptable: One Gold-top SST tube.

Send specimen for processing immediately after collection.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Transfer serum to plastic transport tube and freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below).

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 2.0 mL serum, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 1.0 mL)

Rejection Criteria

Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Transfer serum to plastic transport tube and freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below).

Transport: 2.0 mL serum, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 1.0 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 4 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 24 hours
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 30 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Quest Diagnostics, Wood Dale, IL.

Performed

Monday – Saturday.
Results are available in 1-3 days.

Reference Range

<1.3 mg/dL.

Test Methodology

Enzymatic.

CPT Codes

82540

Contacts

Last Updated

11/19/2025