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Test Code PH pH, Venous (Includes pCO2 Venous), Blood

Important Note

Outpatient specimens should ideally be collected at a hospital outpatient laboratory to maintain stability requirements.

Methodology

Modified pH Electrode

Performing Laboratory

Munson Healthcare Laboratories

Specimen Requirements

Specimen must arrive within 10 minutes of draw.

 

Container/Tube: Blood gas capillary tube or unspun green top (heparin) tube-Specimen exposed to air is not acceptable.

Specimen Volume: 0.1 mL of whole blood from blood gas capillary tube or 0.5 mL of whole blood from unspun green top (heparin) tube
Transport Temperature: Ambient

Collection Instructions: Forward immediately.  Specimen must be analyzed within 30 minutes of draw.

Note: Do not centrifuge.

Reference Values

pH: 7.32-7.42 pH units
Critical values (automatic call-back):

Pediatric patients up to 21 years old:  ≤ 7.20 pH units or  ≥  7.50 pH units

Patients 21 years and older:   ≤ 7.20 pH units or ≥ 7.60 pH units


pCO2: 41-51 mm/Hg
Critical values (automatic call-back):

Pediatric patients up to 21 years old: ≤ 30 mmHg or  ≥ 70 mm/Hg

Patients 21 and older:  ≤ 20 mm/Hg or   ≥  70 mm/Hg

Day(s) Test Set Up

Monday through Sunday

Test Classification and CPT Coding

82803