Plasma

Red top tube 5 mL (Clot Activator)

3 mL in a pink top tube or ONE EDTA Microtainer^® devices

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

1 hour (upon receipt in laboratory)

Usual therapeutic range 0.4 to 1.2 mEq/L at steady state
(12 hr after dose).

Critical value: >1.4 mEq/L

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

Hemolysis: No significant interference up to an H index of 1000 (approximate hemoglobin concentration: 1000 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 43 (approximate conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin concentration: 43 mg/dL).

Colorimetric

Centrifuge at a speed and time necessary to get barrier separation of plasma/serum and cells within 1 hour of collection.
Separate plasma into screw-capped plastic vial.
Do not send primary tube if all plasma has been transferred to another tube.
Each sample must be labeled with at least TWO full patient identifiers (First/Last Name & DOB are sufficient for non-UIHC affiliated clients) to avoid sample rejection/delays.

Refrigerate.
All sample storage requirements are intended for delivery to UIHC within 24 hours of collection for testing. If samples won't arrive in this time period, please call the UIHC Core Lab for alternative storage/shipping instructions (319-356-3527).

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

80178

See Additional Information:
Chemistry Critical Lab Values