If a required test is not listed here, please discuss with the Duty Biochemist.
If the assay required is NOT listed then please contact the department directly. All results are reported with reference ranges and/or an interpretative comment. Advice on appropriate requesting and interpretation of results is available at all times from the Duty Biochemist/Duty Immunologist.
Sample volumes: most routine tests can be performed on 5ml clotted serum sample (brown top), unless otherwise stated below (For paediatric samples a minimum of 1ml of blood is required).
Indicative turnround times are given for non-urgent situations. Our TAT target is that 95% of tests marked * in the table are completed in <4 hours for internal CUH locations and <8 hours for all other locations except where an agreement exists between users and laboratory that we will complete tests more urgently for specimens received from a specific location.
Turnaround times for referral tests are those reported by the the referral laboratory and do not include time taken to post specimens and receive results via the post or electronically. We do not post specimens on a Friday, therefore if samples are received after Thursday they will not be sent until the following Monday, unless they are urgent and this has been agreed with the Duty Biochemist.
If a required test is not listed on our A-Z, please discuss with the Duty Biochemist.
| Test | Sample | Adult Reference range | **If referred, site code | Turn-around time | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test Renin |
Sample
EDTA (Red) |
Adult Reference range
Please note this is a mass assay – interpretation given with report |
**If referred, site code | Turn-around time 2 weeks |
Comments
Please note whether the patient is standing (ambulant) or lying down (recumbent) and any drug regimens such as ACE inhibitors or Captopril stimulation. Do not refrigerate blood tubes. |
| Test Salicylate |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
Adult Reference range >300 mg/L toxic | **If referred, site code | Turn-around time <8 hours* | Comments See BNF for guidelines |
| Test Sars Cov2 quant IgG |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
Adult Reference range Interpretation with report | **If referred, site code | Turn-around time <24 hours | Comments |
| Test Selenium | Sample EDTA (Red) |
Adult Reference range
<18 months 0.4-0.7 umol/L 18 months-4 yr 0.6-1.1 umol/L 5-16 yr 0.7-1.5 umol/L Adult (>16 yr) 0.9-1.7 umol/L |
**If referred, site code BCH | Turn-around time 2 weeks | Comments |
| Test Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
Adult Reference range
18 - 144 nmol/L (Female) 10 - 57 nmol/L (male) |
**If referred, site code | Turn-around time 3 working days |
Comments
Calculated ‘free’ testosterone can be provided if testosterone and albumin also measured |
| Test Silver | Sample EDTA (Red) | Adult Reference range <2.8 nmol/L | **If referred, site code GUI | Turn-around time 3 weeks | Comments To test for silver toxicity |
| Test Sirolimus (Rapamune) | Sample EDTA (Red) | Adult Reference range | **If referred, site code | Turn-around time <8 hours* | Comments Collect trough sample just before next dose. |
| Test Sodium |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
Adult Reference range
133 - 146 mmol/L |
**If referred, site code | Turn-around time <8 hours* | Comments |
|
Test
Somatostatin [part of gut hormone profile] |
Sample 2 x blue EDTA transfusion tubes on ICE | Adult Reference range 0 – 150 pmol/L | **If referred, site code CHX | Turn-around time 4 weeks |
Comments
Fasting sample required. Send to lab promptly for immediate freezing of plasma |
| Test Sulphonylurea |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
Adult Reference range Interpretation with report | **If referred, site code GHO | Turn-around time 2 weeks |
Comments
Positive/Negative result given. Not to be used for monitoring levels. Measured as part of hypoglycaemia investigation protocols. |
| Test Synacthen test |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
Adult Reference range Normal response at 30 mins is greater than 450 nmol/L | **If referred, site code |
Turn-around time
<8 hours acute <12 hours community |
Comments |
| Test Tacrolimus (FK506) | Sample EDTA (Red) | Adult Reference range | **If referred, site code | Turn-around time <8 hours* | Comments Collect trough sample just before next dose |
| Test Testosterone |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
Adult Reference range
Male 19-39 yrs 7.9-31.3 nmol/L 40-49 yrs 7.2-31.3 nmol/L 50-59 yrs 6.7-31.3 nmol/L 60-79 yrs 6.6-31.3 nmol/L 80-99 yrs 4.1-31.3 nmol/L Female <1.8 nmol/L |
**If referred, site code |
Turn-around time
<8 hours acute <12 hours community (male) 1 week (female) |
Comments Female testosterone measured by mass spectrometry |
| Test Theophylline | Sample Serum (Brown) | Adult Reference range 10 - 20 mg/L | **If referred, site code | Turn-around time <8 hours* |
Comments
For oral sustained release – collect just before next dose. For IV – collect at least 14 hours post dose. |
| Test Thiopentone |
Sample
EDTA (Red) |
Adult Reference range 5 - 100 mg/L | **If referred, site code CAR | Turn-around time 1 weeks |
Comments
All requests must be discussed with the Duty Biochemist who will give advice on when to take sample. |
| Test Thiopurinemethyl transferase (TPMT) | Sample EDTA (Red) | Adult Reference range Interpretation with report | **If referred, site code BCH | Turn-around time 2 weeks | Comments |
| Test Thiopurine metabolites, 6-thioguanine nucleotides (6TGN and 6 MMPN) | Sample EDTA (Red) | Adult Reference range Interpretation with report | **If referred, site code BCH | Turn-around time 2 weeks | Comments Sample can be taken anytime. |
| Test Thyroglobulin |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
Adult Reference range Interpretation with report | **If referred, site code | Turn-around time 21 working days | Comments Includes Antibody results to assist with interpretation |
| Test Thyroid function tests |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
Adult Reference range Interpretation with report | **If referred, site code | Turn-around time <1 working day | Comments See TSH & Free T4 |
| Test Tobramycin (pre dose) |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
Adult Reference range <1 mg/L | **If referred, site code | Turn-around time <8 hours* |
Comments
Collect trough sample just before next dose. Refer to local pharmacy guidelines |
| Test Topiramate |
Sample
EDTA (Red) |
Adult Reference range 5 - 20 mg/L | **If referred, site code CAR | Turn-around time 2 weeks | Comments Collect trough sample just before next dose. |
| Test Total protein (TP) |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
Adult Reference range 60 - 80 g/L | **If referred, site code | Turn-around time < 4 working days | Comments Note: not part of liver profile |
| Test Transferrin [part of iron overload] |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
Adult Reference range
Male 2.15-3.65 g/L Female 2.50 -3.80 g/L |
**If referred, site code | Turn-around time <8 hours* | Comments |
| Test Triglycerides [part of full lipid profile] |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
Adult Reference range 0.3 - 1.8 mmol/L | **If referred, site code | Turn-around time <8 hours* | Comments Only available as part of full lipid profile |
| Test Troponin I | Sample Serum (Brown) |
Adult Reference range
0-58 ng/L (Male) 0-40 ng/L (Female) |
**If referred, site code |
Turn-around time
CUH < 2 hrs Other Acute <4 hours Community < 8 hours |
Comments |
| Test TSH |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
Adult Reference range 0.35 - 5.50 mIU/L | **If referred, site code | Turn-around time <8 hours* | Comments |
| Test Creatinine & electrolytes (can be known as U/E) | Sample Serum (Brown) | Adult Reference range | **If referred, site code | Turn-around time <8 hours* | Comments See sodium, potassium, & creatinine. Note, urea is not included in this profile |
| Test Urate |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
Adult Reference range
200 - 430 µmol/L (male) 140 - 360 µmol/L (female) |
**If referred, site code | Turn-around time <8 hours* | Comments |
| Test Urea | Sample Serum (Brown) | Adult Reference range 2.5 -7.8 mmol/L | **If referred, site code | Turn-around time <8 hours* | Comments |
| Test Valproate, Valproic acid, Sodium Valproate |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
Adult Reference range | **If referred, site code BED | Turn-around time 5 days* |
Comments
Collect trough sample just before next dose. Valproate is not a useful marker of treatment efficacy: use only to confirm compliance or self poisoning |
| Test Vancomycin (pre dose) | Sample Serum (Brown) | Adult Reference range 10 - 20 mg/L | **If referred, site code | Turn-around time <8 hours* |
Comments
Collect trough sample just before next dose. Refer to local pharmacy guidelines |
|
Test
Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) [part of gut hormone profile |
Sample 2 x blue EDTA transfusion tubes on ICE | Adult Reference range Interpretation on report | **If referred, site code CHX | Turn-around time 4 weeks |
Comments
Fasting sample required. Send to lab promptly for immediate freezing of plasma |
| Test VEGF (Vascular endothelial growth factor) | Sample Serum (Brown) | Adult Reference range <771 pg/mL | **If referred, site code QES | Turn-around time 4 weeks | Comments |
| Test Vitamin A [part of vitamin A and E profile] |
Sample
Lithium heparin (Orange) protected from light |
Adult Reference range Interpretation provided with report | **If referred, site code GLA | Turn-around time 2 weeks | Comments Send to lab promptly for immediate freezing of plasma |
| Test Vitamin B1 | Sample EDTA (Red) | Adult Reference range 275 – 675 ng TDP/g Hb | **If referred, site code GLA | Turn-around time 2 weeks | Comments |
| Test Vitamin B12 |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
Adult Reference range 211 – 911 ng/L | **If referred, site code | Turn-around time <8 hours* | Comments |
| Test Vitamin B2 | Sample EDTA (Red) protected from light | Adult Reference range 1.0 - 3.4 nmol/g Hb | **If referred, site code GLA | Turn-around time 2 weeks | Comments |
| Test Vitamin B6 | Sample EDTA (Red) protected from light | Adult Reference range 250 - 630 pmol/g Hb | **If referred, site code GLA | Turn-around time 2 weeks | Comments |
| Test Vitamin D |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
Adult Reference range Interpretation provided with report | **If referred, site code |
Turn-around time
CUH & Other Acute 3 working days Community < 8 hours |
Comments |
| Test 1,25 Vitamin D | Sample Serum (Brown) | Adult Reference range Range on report | **If referred, site code RMI | Turn-around time 4 weeks | Comments |
|
Test
Vitamin E (tocopherol) [part of vitamin A and E profile] |
Sample
Lithium heparin (Orange) protected from light |
Adult Reference range
15-45 umol/L (Vitamin E) 3.5-9.5 umol/mmol cholesterol (Vitamin E/Cholesterol ratio ) |
**If referred, site code GLA | Turn-around time 2 weeks |
Comments
Send to lab promptly for immediate freezing of plasma. Ranges vary in children. |
| Test Vitamin K1 | Sample Serum (Brown) protected from light | Adult Reference range 0.15 – 1.55 ug/L | **If referred, site code STH | Turn-around time 2 weeks | Comments Also reported with a PIVKA-II result |
| Test Zinc | Sample Serum non gel (White) |
Adult Reference range
Reference range all ages: 11-24 umol/L Deficiency may be indicated <7.0 umol/L May have no clinical significance 6.1-10.9 umol/L Dietary supplement use (or contamination) >24 umol/L |
**If referred, site code BCH | Turn-around time 2 weeks | Comments Do not send in serum separator (gel) tubes |