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| A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # |
Ionized Calcium
Test CodeICA
Alias/See Also
Free Calcium, ICA
CPT Codes
82330
Preferred Specimen
Full vacuum intact vacutainer tube or 1 ml in a heparinized syringe.
Minimum Volume
0.1 mL whole blood (if in a 1 mL heparinized syringe with no bubbles) or FULL lithium heparin tube.
Serum is acceptable if tube has not been uncapped and is at least half full.
Serum is acceptable if tube has not been uncapped and is at least half full.
Instructions
Send immediately to lab. Whole blood specimens should not be spun and sent on ice. Do not open the tube. If sending with an ABG do not place the specimen on ice or send in the pneumatic tube system. The specimen must reach the laboratory in 10 minutes for analysis.
SERUM is acceptable if tube has not been uncapped and is at least half full.
SERUM is acceptable if tube has not been uncapped and is at least half full.
Transport Container
Lithium heparin (green top), Serum separator (gold top), heparinized syringe or capillary tube. Microtainer tubes are not acceptable.
Transport Temperature
Refrigerated
Specimen Stability
Heparinized Whole Blood:
Room Temperature: 10 minutes
Refrigerated: 30 minutes
Frozen: Unacceptable
Serum (full tube unopened)
Room Temperature: 7 days
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: Unacceptable
Serum Tube (1/2 full unopened)
Room Temperature: 4 hours
Refrigerated: 4 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable
Room Temperature: 10 minutes
Refrigerated: 30 minutes
Frozen: Unacceptable
Serum (full tube unopened)
Room Temperature: 7 days
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: Unacceptable
Serum Tube (1/2 full unopened)
Room Temperature: 4 hours
Refrigerated: 4 hours
Frozen: Unacceptable
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
- Microtainer tubes
- Plasma samples that have been centrifuged
- Any specimen that has not been kept anaerobic (cap removed or opened)
- Tubes that are less than 1/2 full
Methodology
Automated
Setup Schedule
Daily
Report Available
Inpatients: 30 minutes. Outpatient samples received by noon will be reported by 4:30 pm. Samples received after noon will be reported the following morning.
