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 | AdultReference range | **If referred, sitecode | Turnaroundtime | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test Renin |
Sample
EDTA (Red) |
AdultReference range
Please note this is a mass assay – interpretation given with report |
**If referred, sitecode | Turnaroundtime 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) |
AdultReference range >300 mg/L toxic | **If referred, sitecode | Turnaroundtime <8 hours* | Comments See BNF for guidelines |
| Test Sars Cov2 quant IgG |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
AdultReference range Interpretation with report | **If referred, sitecode | Turnaroundtime <24 hours | Comments |
| Test Selenium | Sample EDTA (Red) |
AdultReference 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, sitecode BCH | Turnaroundtime 2 weeks | Comments |
| Test Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
AdultReference range
18 - 144 nmol/L (Female) 10 - 57 nmol/L (male) |
**If referred, sitecode | Turnaroundtime 3 working days |
Comments
Calculated ‘free’ testosterone can be provided if testosterone and albumin also measured |
| Test Silver | Sample EDTA (Red) | AdultReference range <2.8 nmol/L | **If referred, sitecode GUI | Turnaroundtime 3 weeks | Comments To test for silver toxicity |
| Test Sirolimus (Rapamune) | Sample EDTA (Red) | AdultReference range | **If referred, sitecode | Turnaroundtime <8 hours* | Comments Collect trough sample just before next dose. |
| Test Sodium |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
AdultReference range
133 - 146 mmol/L |
**If referred, sitecode | Turnaroundtime <8 hours* | Comments |
|
Test
Somatostatin [part of gut hormone profile] |
Sample 2 x blue EDTA transfusion tubes on ICE | AdultReference range 0 – 150 pmol/L | **If referred, sitecode CHX | Turnaroundtime 4 weeks |
Comments
Fasting sample required. Send to lab promptly for immediate freezing of plasma |
| Test Sulphonylurea |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
AdultReference range Interpretation with report | **If referred, sitecode GHO | Turnaroundtime 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) |
AdultReference range Normal response at 30 mins is greater than 450 nmol/L | **If referred, sitecode |
Turnaroundtime
<8 hours acute <12 hours community |
Comments |
| Test Tacrolimus (FK506) | Sample EDTA (Red) | AdultReference range | **If referred, sitecode | Turnaroundtime <8 hours* | Comments Collect trough sample just before next dose |
| Test Testosterone |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
AdultReference 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, sitecode |
Turnaroundtime
<8 hours acute <12 hours community (male) 1 week (female) |
Comments Female testosterone measured by mass spectrometry |
| Test Theophylline | Sample Serum (Brown) | AdultReference range 10 - 20 mg/L | **If referred, sitecode | Turnaroundtime <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) |
AdultReference range 5 - 100 mg/L | **If referred, sitecode CAR | Turnaroundtime 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) | AdultReference range Interpretation with report | **If referred, sitecode BCH | Turnaroundtime 2 weeks | Comments |
| Test Thiopurine metabolites, 6-thioguanine nucleotides (6TGN and 6 MMPN) | Sample EDTA (Red) | AdultReference range Interpretation with report | **If referred, sitecode BCH | Turnaroundtime 2 weeks | Comments Sample can be taken anytime. |
| Test Thyroglobulin |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
AdultReference range Interpretation with report | **If referred, sitecode | Turnaroundtime 21 working days | Comments Includes Antibody results to assist with interpretation |
| Test Thyroid function tests |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
AdultReference range Interpretation with report | **If referred, sitecode | Turnaroundtime <1 working day | Comments See TSH & Free T4 |
| Test Tobramycin (pre dose) |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
AdultReference range <1 mg/L | **If referred, sitecode | Turnaroundtime <8 hours* |
Comments
Collect trough sample just before next dose. Refer to local pharmacy guidelines |
| Test Topiramate |
Sample
EDTA (Red) |
AdultReference range 5 - 20 mg/L | **If referred, sitecode CAR | Turnaroundtime 2 weeks | Comments Collect trough sample just before next dose. |
| Test Total protein (TP) |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
AdultReference range 60 - 80 g/L | **If referred, sitecode | Turnaroundtime < 4 working days | Comments Note: not part of liver profile |
| Test Transferrin [part of iron overload] |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
AdultReference range
Male 2.15-3.65 g/L Female 2.50 -3.80 g/L |
**If referred, sitecode | Turnaroundtime <8 hours* | Comments |
| Test Triglycerides [part of full lipid profile] |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
AdultReference range 0.3 - 1.8 mmol/L | **If referred, sitecode | Turnaroundtime <8 hours* | Comments Only available as part of full lipid profile |
| Test Troponin I | Sample Serum (Brown) |
AdultReference range
0-58 ng/L (Male) 0-40 ng/L (Female) |
**If referred, sitecode |
Turnaroundtime
CUH < 2 hrs Other Acute <4 hours Community < 8 hours |
Comments |
| Test TSH |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
AdultReference range 0.35 - 5.50 mIU/L | **If referred, sitecode | Turnaroundtime <8 hours* | Comments |
| Test Creatinine & electrolytes (can be known as U/E) | Sample Serum (Brown) | AdultReference range | **If referred, sitecode | Turnaroundtime <8 hours* | Comments See sodium, potassium, & creatinine. Note, urea is not included in this profile |
| Test Urate |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
AdultReference range
200 - 430 µmol/L (male) 140 - 360 µmol/L (female) |
**If referred, sitecode | Turnaroundtime <8 hours* | Comments |
| Test Urea | Sample Serum (Brown) | AdultReference range 2.5 -7.8 mmol/L | **If referred, sitecode | Turnaroundtime <8 hours* | Comments |
| Test Valproate, Valproic acid, Sodium Valproate |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
AdultReference range | **If referred, sitecode BED | Turnaroundtime 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) | AdultReference range 10 - 20 mg/L | **If referred, sitecode | Turnaroundtime <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 | AdultReference range Interpretation on report | **If referred, sitecode CHX | Turnaroundtime 4 weeks |
Comments
Fasting sample required. Send to lab promptly for immediate freezing of plasma |
| Test VEGF (Vascular endothelial growth factor) | Sample Serum (Brown) | AdultReference range <771 pg/mL | **If referred, sitecode QES | Turnaroundtime 4 weeks | Comments |
| Test Vitamin A [part of vitamin A and E profile] |
Sample
Lithium heparin (Orange) protected from light |
AdultReference range Interpretation provided with report | **If referred, sitecode GLA | Turnaroundtime 2 weeks | Comments Send to lab promptly for immediate freezing of plasma |
| Test Vitamin B1 | Sample EDTA (Red) | AdultReference range 275 – 675 ng TDP/g Hb | **If referred, sitecode GLA | Turnaroundtime 2 weeks | Comments |
| Test Vitamin B12 |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
AdultReference range 211 – 911 ng/L | **If referred, sitecode | Turnaroundtime <8 hours* | Comments |
| Test Vitamin B2 | Sample EDTA (Red) protected from light | AdultReference range 1.0 - 3.4 nmol/g Hb | **If referred, sitecode GLA | Turnaroundtime 2 weeks | Comments |
| Test Vitamin B6 | Sample EDTA (Red) protected from light | AdultReference range 250 - 630 pmol/g Hb | **If referred, sitecode GLA | Turnaroundtime 2 weeks | Comments |
| Test Vitamin D |
Sample
Serum (Brown) |
AdultReference range Interpretation provided with report | **If referred, sitecode |
Turnaroundtime
CUH & Other Acute 3 working days Community < 8 hours |
Comments |
| Test 1,25 Vitamin D | Sample Serum (Brown) | AdultReference range Range on report | **If referred, sitecode RMI | Turnaroundtime 4 weeks | Comments |
|
Test
Vitamin E (tocopherol) [part of vitamin A and E profile] |
Sample
Lithium heparin (Orange) protected from light |
AdultReference range
15-45 umol/L (Vitamin E) 3.5-9.5 umol/mmol cholesterol (Vitamin E/Cholesterol ratio ) |
**If referred, sitecode GLA | Turnaroundtime 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 | AdultReference range 0.15 – 1.55 ug/L | **If referred, sitecode STH | Turnaroundtime 2 weeks | Comments Also reported with a PIVKA-II result |
| Test Zinc | Sample Serum non gel (White) |
AdultReference 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, sitecode BCH | Turnaroundtime 2 weeks | Comments Do not send in serum separator (gel) tubes |