Methemoglobin

For Specimen Integrity during Extreme Weather see the “Lockbox Usage in Extreme Weather” document at the top of this page.

Call transportation (937-297-8262 option 1) for STAT pickup to transport to MVH laboratory for testing.

MHGB

70279

3 mL whole blood Sodium Heparin (dark green top) tube.

1.0 mL

After specimen collected invert tubes 8 - 10 times, then transport tube on wet ice slurry to MVH laboratory within 1 hour.

Sodium Heparin (dark green top)  tube

Transport on ice slurry to laboratory within 1 hour.

1 hour on ice slurry
Room Temperature = n/a
Refrigerated = n/a
Frozen = n/a

Hemolysis, Lipemia, incorrect specimen type, insufficient sample volume, improper storage conditions, exceeds specimen stability guidelines, contaminated sample.

24/7
MVCHEM

1 hour from receipt

The iron in hemoglobin is normally maintained in the ferrous state by several effective mechanisms so that only a small percentage of the total hemoglobin is in the form of methemoglobin. The production of methemoglobin by oxidation of the iron to the ferric state, renders the hemoglobin incapable of interacting reversibly with molecular oxygen. The oxygen affinity of the unaffected heme is also increased, resulting in the decreased release of oxygen to the tissues at low partial pressure of oxygen. Methemoglobinemia is usually caused by exposure to various chemical agents, many which contain nitrogen.