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HelpTest Code LAB16 Electrolytes Panel
Useful For
Diagnosis and treatment of electrolyte and metabolic disorders such as cystic fibrosis and diabetic acidosis.
Profile Information
| Test Code | Test Name | Methodology |
Available Separately |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAB122 | Sodium (Na) | Ion-Selective Electrode (ISE) | Yes |
| LAB114 | Potassium (K) | Yes | |
| LAB59 | Chloride (Cl) | Yes | |
| LAB55 | Carbon Dioxide (CO2) | Enzymatic (Bicarbonate PEPC) | Yes |
| N/A | Anion Gap | Calculation | No |
Performing Laboratory
Bozeman Health Laboratory Services
Specimen Requirements
Specimen Type: Plasma or serum
Container/Tube: Light-green top (lithium heparin gel), red top, or gold top
Specimen Volume: 1 mL
Specimen Minimum Volume: 0.5 mL
Collection Instructions:
- Do not uncap tube once specimen is drawn.
- Avoid hemolysis.
- Spin down and separate serum/plasma from cells within 2 hours.
Specimen Rejection:
- Grossly hemolyzed or lipemic samples will be rejected.
Additional Information
- Hemolyzed specimen may give incorrectly elevated potassium results. Intracellular potassium concentration is 30-fold to 50-fold greater than that of extracellular serum or plasma.
- Gross lipemia causes pseudohyponatremia. Samples should be cleared by ultracentrifugation.
Specimen Transport Temperature
Ambient/Refrigerated
Specimen Stability
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Plasma or Serum, capped | Ambient | 40 hours |
| Refrigerated | 7 days | |
| Plasma or Serum, uncapped | Ambient | 10 minutes* |
*Bicarbonate content in uncapped tubes decreases approximately 4 meq/L after one hour.
Reference Values
| Component | Normal Range | Critical Values |
|---|---|---|
| Na | 135-143 meq/L |
<120 or >155 meq/L |
| K | 3.4-5.1 meq/L |
<3.0 or >6.5 meq/L |
| Cl | 100-110 meq/L | |
| CO2 | 18-27 meq/L |
<10 or >40 meq/L |
| Anion Gap | 5-18 meq/L |
Day(s) Test Set Up
Monday through Sunday
Test Classification and CPT Coding
80051