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Test Code LAB5681 Hemoglobin Total, Venous

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: 1.0 mL Air-tight balanced heparinized blood gas syringe

Acceptable: 3.0 mL Air-tight balanced heparinized blood gas syringe

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

Specimen Collection Volume: 1.0 mL (minimum 0.3 mL if using the 1.0 mL syringe or absolute minimum of 0.8 mL if using the 3.0 mL syringe)

Special Instructions: Mix well and 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: 1.0 mL (minimum 0.3 mL in 1.0 mL syringe or 0.8 mL in 3.0 syringe) 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

20509-6

Last Reviewed

07/2025