| Laboratory: | Clinical Biochemistry (POC (Point of Care) TEST) | ||||
| Test Name: |
Ionized Calcium - epoc - (B)
Test Code:
ICB
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| Clinical Information: |
Description: Ionized calcium is the physiologically-active form of calcium in circulation, and accounts for approximately 50-55% of total calcium.
Ionized calcium values may be slightly higher in children and young adults. Reference ranges for neonates <13 days of age are not well-established.
Test Indications: Second order test used to evaluate calcium status in patients with abnormal albumin and serum protein concentrations, or in the presence of molecules that may influence free calcium concentration (e.g. citrate, increased lactate, altered pH, etc). |
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| Collection Devices: |
Capillary specimens must be collected in a balanced heparin capillary tube (FULL collection), capped, mixed, and tested within 5 minutes of collection.
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| Specimen Required: |
Whole Blood: 4.0 mL
Pediatric Whole Blood: 0.1 mL
Collection Information: Evacuated blood tubes must be FULL to maintain specimen stability. Specimens must remain capped until tested to avoid contamination with air.
Rejection criteria: clots, underfilled tube, leaking specimens, and specimens not received within 30 minutes of collection.
Capillary samples must be tested at the bedside, within 5 minutes.
Ambient: 30 minutes (Vacutainer, syringe); 5 minutes (capillary) Refrigerated: DO NOT REFRIGERATE Frozen: DO NOT FREEZE Do not submit specimens on ice. |
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| Referral: |
Only available at sites which perform epoc testing on-site.
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| Requisition: | |||||
| Reference Values: |
Reference Intervals: 1.15 - 1.33 mmol/L
Critical Values: <0.75 mmol/L >1.63 mmol/L Method of Analysis: Potentiometry – Direct Ion-Selective Electrode Siemens epoc® Blood Analysis System, BGEM test card |
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| Availability: |
Daily or Stat
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| See Also: | |||||
| More Information: |
Interpretation & Assay Interferences: See attached epoc assay interference document
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