Specimen:

Serum

Collection Medium:

Alternate
Collection Media:

Call laboratory for additional acceptable specimen collection 
containers.

Minimum:

2 ml; red top

Rejection Criteria:

Gel separator tubes

Testing
Schedule:

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

Analytic Time:

2 hours (upon receipt in laboratory)

Reference Range:

Usual therapeutic range 1.00 to 1.2 mEq/l at steady state
(12 hr after dose).

Critical value: begins in the range of 1.4 mEq/l.

Comments:

Availability: Daily.

Please print, complete and submit the Advance Beneficiary Notice 
(ABN) along with the Laboratory Requisition before shipping the 
specimen.

Methodology:

Spectrophotometry

Sample
Processing:

Draw plain red-top tube, separator tubes are NOT acceptable.
Centrifuge at 3000 RPM for 10 minutes.
Aliquot serum into labeled container and cap.

Sample
Storage:

Refrigerate.

Transport
Instructions:

Place requisition into outside pocket of bag.
Place specimen into zip-lock type bag, seal bag.
Transport in cooler with refrigerated coolant packs.

CPT Code:

80178

See Additional Information:
Chemistry Critical Lab Values