Lithium
Order Code: LITH
Order Form: Laboratory Requisition
Specimen:
Serum
Collection Medium:
Red top tube
Alternate Collection Media:
Call laboratory for additional acceptable specimen collection containers.
Minimum:
3 mL in a red top tube or ONE microtainer
Rejection Criteria:
Gel separator tubes
Testing Schedule:
24 hrs/day, 7 days a week, including holidays.
Analytic Time:
1 hour (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: >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.
Test Limitations:
Hemolysis: No significant interference up to an H index of 2000 (approximate hemoglobin concentration: 2000 mg/dL).

Lipemia: No significant interference up to an L index of 2000. There is poor correlation between turbidity and triglyceride concentration.

Icterus: No significant interference up to an I index of 45 (approximate conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin concentration: 45 mg/dL).
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