Sign in →

Test Code LAB5680 Hemoglobin Total, Capillary Whole Blood

Performing Laboratory

St. Louis Children's Hospital Laboratory - Core Lab

Specimen Requirements

NOTE: SPECIMEN SHOULD ARRIVE WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF COLLECTION

Patient Preparation: None

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred / Acceptable: heparinized capillary blood gas tube

Submission Container/Tube: May not be received from outside facility

Specimen Collection Volume: Full tube  (minimum 0.2 mL)

Special Instructions: Insert a metal flea into tube with sample. Cap ends the mix well using magnet to move flea from one end of tube to the other. Send to lab immediately. 

 

Sample Rejection

Mislabled or unlabeled specimens 

Clotted specimens

Logistics

Test Availability: Monday-Sunday

Cut-off time: None, performed as received

Turnaround Time: Same Day; 30 minutes from receipt in lab

Reference Values

Reference Interval: 

AGE:    FEMALE MALE   
<3 days 14.5-22.5 g/dL 14.5-22.5 g/dL
3 days-2 weeks: 12.5-20.5 g/dL 12.5-20.5 g/dL
2 weeks-1 month: 10.0-18.0 g/dL 10.0-18.0 g/dL
1 month-6 months: 9.0-14.0 g/dL 9.0-14.0 g/dl
6 months-2 years: 10.5-13.5 g/dL 10.5-13.5 g/dL
2-6 years: 11.5-13.5 g/dL 11.5-13.5 g/dL
6-12 years: 11.5-15.5 g/dL 11.8-15.5 g/dL
≥ 12 years: 11.9-15.5 g/dL 13.0-17.5 g/dL

 Critical Value: 

<12 years: <7.0 g/dL
12-18 years: <6.0 g/dL
≥ 18 years: <6.5 g/dL  OR  >or =20.0 g/dL                                               

Critical test results will be automatically called back initially and every 24 hours thereafter

Methodology

Potentiometric and Amperometry

Limitations

  • NA

Additional Information

FOR SLCH CORE LABORATORY USE ONLY

Lab Processing Instructions: DO NOT SPIN. give specimen directly to blood gas bench

Processed Volume: minimum 0.2 mL  whole blood

Analyte Stability:

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Whole Blood (unprocessed)  Ambient 30 minutes
Plasma/Serum (processed) Refrigerated      not acceptable   
  Ambient  not acceptable
  Frozen  not acceptable   

 

Test Classification and CPT Code

85018

LOINC

NA

Last Reviewed

07/2025