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Test Code ICA Ionized Calcium

Specimen Type

Blood

Preferred Collection Container

Specimen requirements are dependent on Hospital, Acute Care and Out Reach. See Acceptable Collection Container below

Collection Volume

5 mL

Collection Instructions

Must be an anaerobic collection—DO NOT REMOVE CAP!
Place sample on ice immediately after collection and promptly send to the lab cold.
Collection in tubes must be as full as possible and remain capped to maintain anaerobic conditions. Full green microtainers are acceptable if drawn anaerobically by syringe and remain capped. Therefore, venous samples drawn anaerobically by syringe are acceptable but capillary samples are not.

Transport

If not GREEN-PST or SST, transport on Ice. Sample must remain Anaerobic (not exposed to air). Do not aliquot-send in primary tube.
If sample is not being tested in-house, PST or SST are preferred. Spin and send sample on ice. Send Primary tube. Do not remove tube cap. Do not aliquot.

Rejection Criteria

Arterial specimens; PST and SST not spun within 2 hours; Samples not received in original tube; Samples that have been aliquoted; Anticoagulant other than lithium heparin; Sample not collected on ice unless the pH is <7.61; Sample with a pH of >7.61; Grossly hemolyzed.

Specimen Storage and Stability

Whole Blood: Refrigerated, 4-6 hours provided the tube has remained sealed.
PST and SST: Refrigerated, 7 days provided the tube has remained sealed.

Lab Department

Chemistry

Alias

I-Calcium; I-Ca

Ordering Info

NOTE: Arterial specimens are NOT acceptable

EPIC Code

LAB54

Acceptable Collection Container

Hospital Collection Container
TTH Acute Care GRN-ICE whole blood (No Gel Lithium Hep.) on ice
Flower
Monroe
Outreach / Send to NCL GRN-PST on ice or SST on ice
BPCH
Coldwater
Defiance
Fostoria
Fremont
CV Hickman

Testing Volume

0.25 mL (250 ul)

Additional Information

Promptly spin down SST and PST tubes within 2 hours.

Day(s) and Time(s) Performed

Monday through Sunday, 24 hours