Carbon Monoxide

Test Code

Quest Code

309

CPT Codes
82375

Preferred Specimen

Whole blood collected in 1 full EDTA (lavender-top) tube

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

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Fluoride oxalate (gray-top) tube • Grossly clotted

Methodology
Spectrophotometry (SP)

Setup Schedule

Set up: Daily; Report available: Next day

Reference Range

Non-Smoker	<2 % of total Hgb
Average Smoker	4-5 % of total Hgb
Heavy Smoker	8-12 % of total Hgb
Potentially Toxic	>15 % of total Hgb

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.

Performing Laboratory

Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute

14225 Newbrook Drive

Chantilly, VA 20153

Last Updated: August 16, 2019

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.