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Test Code LAB60 Cholesterol, Total, Blood

Performing Laboratory

St. Louis Children's Hospital Laboratory - Chemistry

Specimen Requirements

Patient Preparation: None

Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Mint green-top lithium heparin (MNTGRN LiHep) tube

Acceptable: Green samplette/microtainer, plain red-top tube, or Gold SST gel tube

Submission Container/Tube: If specimen is coming from outside facility and collected in a microtainer, or plain red-top tube aliquot processed sample into a plastic vial for transport (labeling with specimen type).

Specimen Collection Volume: 1.0 mL (minimum 0.6 mL)

Special Instructions: None

 

Sample Rejection

Mislabled or unlabeled specimens

Logistics

Test Availability: Monday-Sunday

Cut-off time: None, performed as received

Turnaround Time: Same Day; 2 hours from receipt in performing lab

Reference Values

Reference Interval: 

≤ 19 years: <200 mg/dL
Interpretation:
     Acceptable: <170  mg/dL
     Borderline High: 170-190 mg/dL                                                      
     High: ≥ 200 mg/dL
≥ 20 years: 30-199 mg/dL
Interpretation:
     Desirable: <200 mg/dL
     Borderline High: 200-239 mg/dL
     HIgh: ≥ 240 mg/dL

References:

  1. Expert Panel on Integrated Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health and Risk Reduction in Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics 2011;128:S213
  2. National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). Circulation 2004;110:227

Critical Value: None established

 

Methodology

Enzymatic, Colorimetric

Limitations

  • Collection of specimen immediately after or during the administration of Metamizole may lead to falsely low results.
  • In very rare cases gammopathy, in particular type IgM (Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia) may cause unreliable results.

Additional Information

FOR SLCH CORE LABORATORY USE ONLY

Lab Processing Instructions: Centrifuge to separate. If specimen is collected in microtainer,or plain red-top tube aliquot sample into a Roche false-bottom tube for testing (labeling aliquot with specimen type).

Processed Volume: 0.3 mL plasma/serum

Analyte Stability:

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Whole Blood (unprocessed)  Ambient 24 hours
Plasma/Serum (processed) Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days
  Ambient  24 hours
  Frozen  3 months     

Test Classification and CPT Code

82465

LOINC

2093-3

Last Reviewed

06/2025