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Test Code Billings Clinic: 9912 Methemoglobin, Arterial, Blood

Performing Laboratory

Billings Clinic Pulmonary Laboratory

Useful For

  • Diagnosing methemoglobinemia
  • Identifying cyanosis due to other causes, such as congenital heart disease

Methodology

Oximetry

Specimen Requirements

 

Specimen Collection/Transport:

  • Draw blood in a green-top (lithium heparin) tube(s)
  • Send 2 mL of unprocessed lithium heparin whole blood.
  • Do not centrifuge. 
  • Avoid exposure of specimen to atmosphere.
  • Forward unprocessed whole blood on an ice slurry - crushed ice in a baggy and wrap around the specimen
  • Must be received in Pulmonary within 4 hours of draw

Storage/Stability

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Whole Blood Li Heparin Refrigerated (Ice Slurry) 4 hours
  Ambient 1 hour

Reject Due To

  • Specimens received outside of the stability limits
  • Specimens other than those collected in Lithium Heparin

Reference Values

Newborn - 12 years:     0 - 2%                      Call Back Value: >4%
>12 years:                    0.5 - 1.5%                Call Back Value: >4%

Day(s) Test Set Up

Daily

Test Classification and CPT Coding

83050