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LITHIUM, serum (087-0346)
Test Mnemonic:

LITHIUM

Specimen Requirements:
Collection:

 

Routine venipuncture 8-10 hours after an oral dose.  Collect 7mL of blood in Red-topped tube or SST.  

 

Container:

Red-topped tube or SST (gel barrier tube)

Minimum Volume:

Min.: 3mL of blood

Storage/Transport:

Delivered to Sample Management within 2 hours of collection.     

Specimen Preparation:

 

Allow specimen to clot completely at room temperature. Centrifuge to separate serum from cells within 2 hours of collection. Transfer serum from red-topped tube or SST(gel barrier tube)  to labeled plastic transport tube. 

Stability:

 

Room temperature for ≤8 hours, Refrigerated   for ≤24 hours, Frozen for ≤6 months. (Avoid repeated freeze/thaw cycles).       

Causes for Rejection:

Incomplete and/or incorrect sample identification, improper storage/transport , gross hemolysis, icterus or lipemia,                                                                    

Reference Range:

By report (reports may vary based on instrumentation, patient age and sex)

Turnaround Time:

Routine: 8 hours; ASAP: 4 hours; STAT: 1 hour

Methodology:

Colorimetric

Performed:

Clinical Chemistry

CPT 4 Code:

 80178

When ordering tests for which Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement will be sought, physicians should only order tests that are medically necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of the patient. Components of the organ or disease panels may be ordered individually. The diagnostic information must substantiate all tests ordered and must be in the form of an ICD-10 code or its verbal equivalent.
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