Specimen:

Whole Blood

Collection Medium:

Minimum:

0.5 ml in Lithium/Sodium Heparin syringes or Sodium Heparin vacutainer
tube

Delivery Instructions:

Mix well and place on wet ice.  Keep on ice and deliver to
laboratory immediately.

Testing Schedule:

24 hrs/day, 7 days a week, including holidays.

Analytic Time:

10 minutes (upon receipt in laboratory)

Reference Range:

0.5 - 2.0 mEq/L

Critical value:  >4.0 mEq/L for patients > 16 years of age--testing
                 performed in Critical Care Lab

Critical value:  >5.0 mEq/L for patients tested in Special Care
                 Nursery Lab

Methodology:

Ion Selective Electrode

CPT Code:

83605

See Additional Information:
Special Care Nurseries Critical Lab Values
Specimens Requiring Immediate Delivery