Test Code LI Lithium
Specimen and Container/Tube
Specimen Type: Serum
Preferred Specimen: Red Top
Other Acceptable specimens: None
Specimen Stability
Storage Temperature |
Stability |
Room Temperature |
1 Day |
Refrigerated |
7 Days |
Frozen |
6 Months |
Collection Instructions
Collect specimen per standard laboratory collection procedures.
Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions
UCMC Onsite Instructions:
- Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately. Recommended to draw blood in a plain, red-top tube(s) 8 to12 hours after last dose (trough specimen).
- Serum samples should be seperated off the cells within 4 hours of collection if processing is delayed.
UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions:
- Samples should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.
- Recommended to draw blood in a plain, red-top tube(s) 8 to12 hours after last dose (trough specimen).
- Centrifuge specimens at >2500 x g for 10 minutes at room temperature.
- Aliquot sample into plastic transport tube containing a minimum of 0.2 mL of specimen.
- Serum samples should be seperated off the cells within 4 hours of collection if processing is delayed.
- Samples must be sent refrigerated at 2-8oC.
Rejection Criteria
- Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits.
- Specimens that are clotted or grossly hemolyzed.
- Specimens that were transported unspun/whole blood and draw time is greater than 6 hours.
Reference Values
Test |
Age |
Sex |
Reference Range |
Lithium |
All |
All |
0.5 - 1.0 mmol/L |
Reference ranges are based on in-house studies, recommendations from Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry, and Roche Diagnostics product literature.
Critical Values
Analyte |
Unit |
Low |
High |
Age |
Lithium |
mmol/L |
N/A |
> 2.00 |
N/A |
Turnaround Time
Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory.
STAT Turnaround Time: 1 hour
Routine Turnaround Time: up to 4 hours
Testing Schedule: 24/7
Clinical Indications
Monitor therapeutic drug level, support compliance, and avoid intoxicating levels.
Test Components
Lithium
Methodology
Colormetric Test (Roche Diagnostics)
CPT Codes
80178
LOINC Codes
14334-7
Synonyms/Keyword Search
N/A
Additional Information
- Results should always be assessed in conjunction with patient's medical history, clinical examination and other findings.
- Lithium toxicity, including severe neurotoxic effects, can occur with normal serum lithium levels. Instances of acute intoxication may be accompanied by high serum lithium levels without clinical evidence of neurotoxic effects. Lithium penetrates neurons slowly.
- Thiazides can cause significant rise in serum lithium.
Last Review Date
6/4/25
Volume
Preferred Volume: 0.5 mL
Minimum Volume: 0.2 mL