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Methemoglobin
Test CodeMETHB
CPT Codes
83050
Preferred Specimen
Whole Blood: Heparinzed syringe or heparinzed green top tube on slushed ice.
Minimum Volume
1 ml
Other Acceptable Specimens
Whole blood EDTA (purple top tube) on ice.
Transport Container
Heparinzed syringe or heparinized green top tube
Transport Temperature
On slushed ice or refrigerated
Specimen Stability
4 hours on slushed ice
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
clotted, frozen, hyperlipemia
Methodology
Hemoximetry
Setup Schedule
Daily upon receipt
Report Available
Upon completion of analysis
Reference Range
0.2 - 0.6%
Clinical Significance
Methemoglobin is formed when blood is exposed to oxidizing agents, oxidizing the iron atom Fe2+ to Fe3+. MetHb has a very low affinity to O2. The alteration is caused by certain medicines and organic solvents.
FMetHb is the fraction of methemoglobin of the total amount of hemoglobin.