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Test Code RTHB Hemoglobin/Saturation 

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Whole blood

Preferred Specimen: Syringe

Other Acceptable Specimens: None

Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions

UCMC Onsite Instructions: 

  • Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately. 
  • Testing must be performed within 30 minutes of collection 

UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions: 

  • Specimens are not acceptable from offsite locations for blood gas testing 

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 with needles attached will be rejected. 
  • Specimens with air bubbles. 

Reference Values

Analyte

Age

Sex

Normal Range

Hemoglobin

All

All

12.0 - 18.0 g/dL

Critical Values

Analyte

Age

Low

High

Hemoglobin

All

NA

>6.0 g/dL

CPT Codes

85018

LOINC Codes

718-7

Volume

Preferred Volume: 0.5 mL

Minimum Volume: 0.2 mL

Specimen Stability

Storage Temperature

Stability

Room temperature

30 minutes

Refrigerated

not acceptable

Frozen

not acceptable

Collection Instructions

  • Collect specimen per standard laboratory collection procedures. 
  • Remove all air from syringe. 
  • Remove needle. 
  • Cap tightly and mix well. 

 

Test Components

Hemoglobin

Methodology

Direct measurement

Additional Information

NA

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: 4 hours

 

Testing Schedule: 24/7

Last Review Date

4/29/2025