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Carboxyhemoglobin, Blood
Test Code309
CPT Codes
82375
Preferred Specimen
One full EDTA (lavender-top) tube of whole blood - keep tube closed
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
Whole blood collected in: Sodium heparin (green-top) tube or lithium heparin (green-top) tube
Instructions
Keep tube closed
Transport Temperature
Room temperature
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 5 days
Refrigerated: 10 days
Frozen: Unacceptable
Refrigerated: 10 days
Frozen: Unacceptable
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Fluoride oxalate (gray-top) tube • Grossly clotted
Methodology
Spectrophotometry (SP)
Setup Schedule
P.M. Sets up 7 days a week.
Clinical Significance
Carbon monoxide is the most common of the gaseous poisons. Malfunctioning or poorly ventilated heating appliances and internal combustion engines are frequent causes of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide combines reversibly with hemoglobin in a manner almost identical to oxygen resulting in a decrease in the amount of oxygen carried by hemoglobin. Accidental poisoning can occur even at low levels (greater than 0.01%) of CO in the atmosphere with prolonged exposure.