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Test Code Billings Clinic: 4002 Sodium, Plasma or Serum

Performing Laboratory

Billings Clinic Laboratory: Chemistry

Useful For

Sodium assays are important in assessing acid-base balance, water balance, water intoxication, and dehydration.

Methodology

Indirect V-LYTE® Integrated Multisensor Technology (IMT)

Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Serum or plasma should be physically separated from cells as soon as possible with a maximum limit of two hours from the time of collection.

 

Plasma

  • Draw blood in a green-top (lithium heparin) tube(s).
  • Spin down and send 0.5 mL of heparinized plasma frozen.

 

Serum

  • Draw blood in a plain, red-top tube(s) or a serum gel tube(s).
  • Spin down and send 0.5 mL of serum frozen

Storage/Stability

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Plasma, Serum Refrigerated 7 days
  Frozen (preferred) 1 month

 

Reject Due To

  • Specimens not separated from red blood cells within 2 hours of collection

Reference Values

Males:  130 - 145 mEq/L

Females:  136 - 145 mEq/L


Call-back values:  <125 mEq/L or >155 mEq/L

Day(s) Test Set Up

Daily

Test Classification and CPT Coding

84295 - Sodium

LOINC Code Information

Reporting Name LOINC Code
Sodium 2951-2

 

Inerferences

  • Samples exposed to benzalkonium salts present in certain blood catheter devices will cause falsely elevated sodium and potassium measurements.