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Test Code LAB78 Blood Gas, Capillary

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 then mix well using magnet to move the flea from one end of tube to other end. Send to lab immediately. Place specimen in wet ice at bedside if unable to send immediately (removing specimen from ice to send thru tube system).

 

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: No established reference intervals for any component

Critical Value: 

pH Cap (all ages):  <7.20  OR  >7.60                                                          

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

Methodology

Potentiometry 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 in capillary tube

Specimen Stability Information:

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

82803

LOINC

pH Cap: 2745-8

pCO2 Cap: 2020-6

pO2 Cap: 2704-5

CO2 Totl ECMO: 20565-8

Last Reviewed

07/2025