| Test |
Specimen & tube |
Reference and therapeutic ranges (Adults) |
Comments (reporting frequency) |
| ACTH |
EDTA (lavender) |
See report for Interpretation |
Contact lab. Sample to lab on ice within 10 mins of collection. 2-3 weeks |
| Alanine transaminase (ALT) |
Serum (gold) |
0 – 60 IU/L |
Urgent/daily |
| Albumin |
Serum (gold) |
32 – 50 g/L |
Urgent/daily |
| Albumin (urine) |
24 hr urine |
0 – 300 mg/24 hr |
Daily |
| Albumin/creat ratio (urine) |
EMU |
< 2.5 mg/mmol M
< 3.5 mg/mmol F |
Daily |
| Aldosterone |
Heparin (green) |
See report for Interpretation |
Contact lab. Sample to lab within 10 mins of collection. 2-3 weeks |
| Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) |
Serum (gold) |
38-126 IU/L |
Urgent/daily |
| Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) |
Serum (gold) |
See report |
Weekly |
| Amino acids (plasma) |
Heparin (green) |
Normal pattern |
2-3 weeks |
| Amino acids (urine) |
Random urine |
Normal pattern |
2-3 weeks |
| Ammonia (plasma) |
Heparin (green) |
See report for Interpretation |
Contact lab. Sample to lab within 20 mins of collection. Urgent/daily |
| Amylase |
Serum (gold) |
30-110 IU/L |
Urgent/daily |
| Androstenedione |
Serum (gold) |
See report |
2-3 weeks |
| Angiotensin Converting Enzyme |
Serum (gold) |
8-52 IU/L |
2-3 weeks |
| Aspartate transaminase (AST) |
Serum (gold) |
0-60 IU/L M 0-40 IU/L F |
Urgent/daily |
| Bence Jones Protein (BJP) |
Early Morning Urine |
N/A |
Weekly |
| Bicarbonate |
Serum (gold) |
22-31 mmol/L |
Urgent/daily |
| Bilirubin (total) |
Serum (gold) |
1-22 μmol/L |
Urgent/daily |
| Bilirubin (conjugated) |
Serum (gold) |
0-5 μmol/L |
Urgent/daily |
| BNP |
EDTA (lavender) |
0-100 ng/L |
Weekly |
| Ca125 |
Serum (gold) |
0-23 KU/L |
Daily |
| Ca15-3 |
Serum (gold) |
0-25 KU/L |
Daily |
| Ca19-9 |
Serum (gold) |
0-33 KU/L |
Daily |
| Caeruloplasmin |
Serum (gold) |
0.20-0.60 g/L |
2-3 weeks |
| Calcitonin |
Serum (gold) |
0 – 18.9 ng/L M
0 - 5.5 ng/L F |
Contact lab.
Sample to lab on ice within 10 mins of collection. 2-3 weeks |
| Calcium |
Serum (gold) |
2.10 – 2.60 mmol/L |
Urgent/daily |
| Calcium (urine) |
24 hour urine |
2.5 – 7.5 mmol/24 hr |
Daily |
| Carbamazepine |
Serum (gold) |
17 – 50 μmol/L (single therapy) |
Sample should be pre-dose. Urgent/daily |
| Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) |
Serum (gold) |
0 – 4 μg/L |
Daily |
| Catecholamines (urine) |
24 hour urine |
Noradrenaline < 500 nmol/24 hr
Adrenaline <100 nmol/24 hr
Dopamine <3000 nmol/24 hr |
Supply current drug therapy. 2-3 weeks |
| Chloride (Serum) |
Serum (gold) |
95-106 mmol/L |
Urgent/daily |
| Chloride (Sweat) |
By prior arrangement |
See report |
Contact lab Ext. 3040 / 3042. By prior arrangement |
| Cholesterol (total) |
Serum (gold) |
3.8-5.2 mmol/L (desirable range) |
Daily |
| Cortisol (serum) |
Serum (gold) |
See report for Interpretation |
Daily |
| Complement (C3/C4) |
Serum (gold) or EDTA (lavender) |
C3 0.9-1.7 g/L
C4 0.12-0.36 g/L |
Weekly |
| Copper |
Serum (gold) |
11-20 μmol/L |
2-3 weeks |
| Copper (urine) |
24 hour urine in acid washed container |
< 0.9 μmol/24 hr |
Contact lab. Acid washed container required. |
| Cortisol (urine) |
24 hour urine |
50-270 nmol/24 hr |
2-3 weeks |
| C-peptide |
Serum (gold) |
See report for interpretation |
Contact lab. Sample to lab within 2 hr of collection. 2-3 weeks |
| C-reactive protein (CRP) |
Serum (gold) |
0- 5 mg/L |
(adult) Urgent/daily |
| Creatine Kinase (CK) |
Serum (gold) |
55-170 IU/L M
30-135 IU/L F |
Urgent/daily |
| Chromosomes |
Heparin (green)
If Fragile X required an EDTA (purple tube) must also be taken |
See report |
Contact lab. By prior arrangement. Samples only accepted Monday,Tuesday, Wednesday. |
| Creatinine |
Serum (gold) |
40-120 μmol/L |
Urgent/daily |
| Creatinine (urine) |
24 hour urine |
9-17 mmol/24 hr |
Daily |
| Creatinine clearance |
Serum (gold) + 24 hour urine |
60-130 ml/min |
Daily |
| Cryoglobulins |
Serum (gold) and EDTA (lavender) |
Not detected |
Contact lab. Samples must be collected at 370C and brought to lab immediately. Collection on SPH site only. |
| Cystine screen |
Random urine |
Not detected |
2-3 weeks |
| DHEAS |
Serum (gold) |
See report |
2-3 weeks |
| Digoxin |
Serum (gold) |
0.9 – 2.6 nmol/L (6 hrs post dose) |
Urgent/daily |
| Drug screen (toxicology/overdose) |
Urine and serum |
|
By arrangement. |
| Drugs of abuse screen |
Random urine |
Negative |
Weekly |
| eGFR |
Serum (gold) |
>60ml/min (Adults) |
Urgent/daily |
| Elastase (faeces) |
Random faeces |
> 200 mg/1g faeces |
2-3 weeks |
| Ferritin |
Serum (gold) |
15-300 μg/L |
Daily |
| FSH |
Serum (gold) |
See report |
Daily |
| Free T3 |
Serum (gold) |
2.8 – 6.5 pmol/L |
Daily |
| Free T4 |
Serum (gold) |
9-24 pmol/L |
Daily |
| Free Testosterone Index (Free Androgen Index) |
Serum (gold) |
1.0-5.5 F
30-100 M |
2 weeks |
| Gamma-GT |
Serum (gold) |
0-60 IU/L M
0-50 IU/L F |
Daily |
| Gastrin (fasting) |
2 pre-chilled EDTA tubes transported immediately to the lab on iced water |
< 40 pmol/L (fasting) |
Contact lab. Fasting sample 2-3 weeks |
Gases :
pH
pCO2
pO2 |
Arterial blood |
7.38 – 7.42
4.5 – 6.1 Kpa
12 – 15 Kpa |
No analyser in lab. Analysers sited in A&E, ITU and NICU, MAU,MHDU, Labour Ward (SPH) Wordsworth and RAC (ASH) |
| Glucose (plasma) |
Fluoride (grey) |
3-6 mmol/L (fasting)
3-11 mmol/L (random) |
Urgent/daily |
| Glucose (CSF) |
CSF (grey) |
Relates to plasma glucose (normal approx. 2/3 plasma value) |
Urgent/daily |
| Growth hormone |
Serum (gold) |
See report |
1-2 weeks |
Gut hormone profile:
VIP profile
PP
Gastrin
Glucagon
Neurotensin |
.2 pre-chilled EDTA tubes transported immediately to the lab on iced water |
< 30 pmol/L
< 300 pmol/L
< 40 pmol/L
< 50 pmol/L
<100 pmol/L |
Contact lab. Special heparin tube with trasylol required. Sample to lab within 5 minutes. 2-3 weeks |
| HbA1c |
Whole blood EDTA (lavender) |
4.8 – 6.0 % |
Daily |
| HDL cholesterol |
Serum (gold) |
1.0–2.0 mmol/L M
1.3-2.3 mmol/L F |
Daily |
| HCG |
Serum (gold) |
0-4 IU/L |
Urgent/daily |
| 5-HIAA (urine) |
24 hour urine |
5-52 μmol/24 hr |
2-3 weeks |
| IGF-1 |
Serum (gold) |
See report |
2-3 weeks |
| Immunoglobulins |
Serum (gold) |
See report |
Daily |
| Insulin |
Serum (gold) |
See report |
Contact lab. Sample to lab within 2 hrs of collection. 2-3 weeks |
| Iron |
Serum (gold) |
8.8-32.4 μmol/L M
6.6-30.4 μmol/L F |
Urgent/daily |
Iron Binding Capacity(IBC)
% Iron saturation |
Serum (gold) |
44.8 – 80.6 μmol/L
20 – 55% |
Daily |
| Lactate |
Fluoride (grey) |
0.7-2.1 mmol/L |
Test available on blood gas analysers (ITU & NICU A&E, MAU, MHDU (SPH) Wordswoth & RAC (ASH). Contact lab. Take sample & ensure arrival in lab within 1hr of collection Urgent/daily |
| Lactate: Pyruvate ratio |
By special arrangement only (Contact lab.) |
See report |
By special arrangement. Contact lab. |
| Lactate Dehydrogenase LDH |
Serum (gold) |
266-500 IU/L |
Urgent/daily |
| LDL (calculated) |
Serum (gold) (fasting) |
2.3 – 3.4 mmol/L (desirable) |
Daily |
| Lead |
Whole blood (lavender) EDTA |
< 0.5 μmol/L |
2-3 weeks |
| Lithium |
Serum (gold) |
0.4-1.0 mmol/L |
Sample should be 12 hrs post dose. Urgent/daily |
| LH |
Serum (gold) |
See report |
Daily |
| Magnesium |
Serum (gold) |
0.65-1.0 mmol/L |
Urgent/daily |
| Metanephrine (urine) |
24 hour urine |
Normetadrenaline 0-3.3umol/day
Metadrenaline 0-1.2umol/day
3-methoxytryptamine 0-2.5μmol/day |
Supply current drug therapy. 2-3 weeks |
| Occult Blood (faecal) |
Random faeces |
Negative |
Daily |
| Oestradiol |
Serum (gold) |
See report |
Daily |
| Organic acids (urine) |
Random urine |
Normal pattern |
2-3 weeks |
| Osmolality |
Serum (gold) |
275-295 mmol/kg |
Urgent/daily |
| Osmolality (urine) |
Random urine |
60-1500 mmol/kg |
Urgent/daily |
| Paracetamol |
Serum (gold) |
Not detected. |
Refer to A & E for treatment guidelines. Urgent/daily |
| Parathyroid Hormone |
EDTA (lavender) |
See report |
Sample should arrive in lab within 6 hr of collection. Weekly |
| Phenobarbitone |
Serum (gold) |
0-30 mg/L up to 1 months
0-40mg/L >1 month and adults |
Take sample immediately before next dose. Weekly |
| Phenytoin |
Serum (gold) |
40-80 μmol/L |
Take sample immediately before next dose. Urgent/daily |
| Phosphate |
Serum (gold) |
0.8-1.4 mmol/L (adult) |
Urgent/daily |
| Phosphate (urine) |
24 hr urine |
15-50 mmol/24 hr |
Daily |
| PBG (urine) |
Random urine
Protect from light |
Not detected |
Contact lab Urgent/daily |
| Porphyrin (faeces) |
Faeces
Protect from light |
See report |
Contact lab. 2-3 weeks |
| Porphyrin (urine) |
Random urine
Protect from light |
Within normal limits |
Contact lab. Urgent/daily |
| Porphyrin (whole blood) |
Whole blood EDTA (lavender)
Protect from light |
See report |
Contact lab. 2-3 weeks |
| Potassium |
Serum (gold) |
3.5 – 5.0 mmol/L |
Urgent/daily |
| Potassium (urine) |
24 hr/random |
35-90 mmol/24 hr |
Urgent/daily |
| Progesterone |
Serum (gold) |
See report |
Daily |
| Prolactin |
Serum (gold) |
45-375 mU/L M
59-620 mU/L F |
Daily |
| Prostate specific antigen (PSA) |
Serum (gold) |
Males
< 50
< 2.5 μg/L 50-59
< 3.5 μg/L 60-69
< 4.5 μg/L
70 + < 6.5 μg/L |
Daily |
| Protein (serum total) |
Serum (gold) |
60-84 g/L |
Daily |
| Protein (urine) |
Random urine
24 hour urine |
< 0.1 g/L
< 0.15 g/24 hr |
Daily |
| Protein (CSF) |
CSF |
0.1-0.4 g/L (adult) |
Urgent/daily |
| Protein electrophoresis |
Serum (gold) |
Within normal limits |
To exclude myeloma both serum and urine are required. |
| Reducing substances (faecal) |
Fresh faeces sent to lab within 20 minutes. |
Not detected. |
Contact lab. Sample must reach lab within 20 minutes. Urgent/daily |
| Reducing substances (urine) |
Fresh random urine |
Not detected. |
Sample must reach lab within 4 hours. Urgent/daily |
| Renin |
Heparin (green-adults) |
See report for Interpretation |
Contact lab. Sample to lab within 10 mins of collection. NOT on ice 2-3 weeks |
| Salicylate |
Serum (gold) |
Not detected |
Urgent/daily |
| Selenium |
Trace Metals tube (blue) |
0.89-1.65 μmol/L (adult) |
2-3 weeks |
| SHBG |
Serum (gold) |
15-55 nmol/L M
30-100 nmol/L F |
2 weeks |
| Sodium |
Serum (gold) |
133-147 mmol/L |
Urgent/daily |
| Sodium (sweat) |
By prior arrangement. |
See report |
Contact lab. Ext. 3040/3042 By prior arrangement. |
| Sodium (urine) |
24 hr urine or random |
40-220 mmol/24 hour |
Urgent/daily |
| Steroid profile (urine) |
24 hr urine |
See report |
2-3 weeks |
| Sugar chromatography (faecal) |
Fresh faeces sent to lab within 20 mins. |
See report |
Contact lab. Sample must reach lab within 20 mins. Weekly |
| Sugar chromatography (urine) |
Fresh urine |
See report |
Contact lab. Sample must reach lab. within 4 hrs. Urgent/daily by arrangement. |
| Testosterone |
Serum (gold) |
10-30 nmol/L M
0-3 nmol/L F |
Daily |
| Theophylline |
Serum (gold) |
55-110 μmol/L (adult) |
Take sample immediately before next dose. Urgent/daily |
| TSH |
Serum (gold) |
0.35-5.0 mU/L |
Daily |
| Triglycerides (fasting) |
Serum (gold) fasting |
0.8-2.0 mmol/L (fasting) |
Daily |
| Troponin I |
Serum (gold) |
0-0.1 μg/L |
Urgent/daily |
| Urea |
Serum (gold) |
2.5-6.5 mmol/L
< 65yr 4.0-10.0 mmol/L > 65yr |
Urgent/daily |
| Urea (urine) |
24 hr /random urine |
166-581 mmol/24 hr |
Daily |
| Uric acid |
Serum (gold) |
200-500 μmol/L M
150-450 μmol/L F |
Urgent/daily |
| Uric acid (urine) |
24 hr urine |
3-12 mmol/24 hr |
Daily |
| Valproate |
Serum (gold) |
350-700 μmol/L (adults) |
Take sample immediately before next dose.Urgent/daily |
| Vitamin D (25 OHy vitamin D) |
Serum (gold) |
See report |
2-3 weeks |
| VMA (HMMA) | See Catecholamines | | |
| White Cell Enzymes |
Whole blood Heparin (green) |
See report |
Specify the enzyme analysis required. 3-4 weeks |
| Zinc |
Serum (gold) or Trace metals tube(blue) |
11-24 μmol/L |
2 weeks |
