Collect blood into a pre-chilled vacutainer (lavender top) containing EDTA as the anti-coagulant. Immediately add 150 µl of ready-to-use aprotinin solution (Sigma #A6279). Mix by inversion and place sample in an ice bath immediately. Centrifuge the blood within 10 minutes of collection by using a refrigerated centrifuge set at 4o C for 15 minutes at 1500 x g. Transfer the clear plasma to a labeled 12 x 75 mm polypropylene tube. Store at -80o C until time of assay.
The ALPCO radioimmunoassay is used for the quantitative measurement of α-MSH in 100 µl of plasma.
Suggested blood sample size: 3 ml
