Laboratory Test Reference Guide

Laboratory Information

Test Name

Calcium (ionised)

External Price (excl. GST)

11.81

Specimen Collection

Pre Testing Requirements

Ideally fasting for 4 hours and seated for 5 minutes

Specimen Collection and Transport Protocols

Remove at least 3 ml of blood to waste prior to collecting the blood sample from a line.  Must be analysed within 15 minutes of collection.

Adult Specimen

1.0 ml blood in an adult blood gas syringe or 0.5 ml in a paediatric blood gas syringe

Paediatric Specimen

0.5 ml blood in a paediatric blood gas syringe

Sample Delivery to Lab

Ambient

Instructions for Referral to Waikato Lab

Aliquot instructions

Anaerobically collect 5 mL into an evacuated tube, preferably an SST tube as they are more stable. Red top vacutainers may also be used.

Aliquot Transport

Transport the sample at 4°C (preferred) or at ambient temperature.

Test Information

Department

Biochemistry and POCT

Test Availability

Mon - Sun, 24hrs

Laboratory Turnaround Time

30 minutes

Method

Blood gas analyser

Unit of measurement

mmol/L

Reference interval

1 day to 1year 1.10 - 1.45 mmol/L               

> 1 year 1.15 - 1.30 mmol/L

 

Uncertainty of measurement

±0.05

Diagnostic Use Or Instructions

When stored at 4oC, samples are stable for 7 days

Additional Information

The effects of pre-analytical variables tend to be small in "outpatients":

Increases by 0.02 mmol/L after stair climbing (increases by 0.1 mmol/L after 10 - 15 min of cycling)

Increases by 0.02 mmol/L when standing (vs supine)

Decreases by 0.05 mmol/L following meals

 

Minimum Volume

0.3 ml collected into a paediatric blood gas syringe

Electronic Information

Registration Code

CALI

HL7 mapping code

$CALI

LOINC Code

1995-0