Calcium (ionised, pH 7.4)
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.
1.0 ml blood in an adult blood gas syringe or 0.5 ml in a paediatric blood gas syringe. Testing can also be performed on a full SST tube, centrifuged and only opened for analysis on the blood gas analyser.
0.5 ml blood in a paediatric blood gas syringe
Ambient
Collect a full SST tube.
Centrifuge and transport at 4°C.
Biochemistry and POCT
Mon - Sun, 24hrs
30 minutes
Blood gas analyser
mmol/L
1 day to 1year 1.10 - 1.45 mmol/L
>1Y 1.15 – 1.30 mmol/L
± 0.05
Measured ionised calcium is adjusted to pH = 7.4 to adjust for the effects of any CO2 loss (on ionised calcium) that may have occurred during sample handling. In patients with acid/base disturbance, it is inappropriate to use the adjusted ionised calcium, the "unadjusted ionised calcium" result should be used.
0.3 ml collected into a paediatric blood gas syringe
CALI74
$CALI74
19072-8
