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Carbon Dioxide

Alternate Name: Co2

SAL Code:

304

CPT:

82374

Loinc:

2028-9

Turn Around Time:

1 Day

Setup:

Daily

Units:

mEq/L

Department:

Chemistry

Performing Laboratory:

Sherman Abrams Laboratory

Specimen Requirements:

Primary Tube:

SST

Primary Substance:

Serum

Temperature

Period

Stable Ambient:

3 Days

Stable Fridge:

3 Days

Stable Frozen:

28 Days

Rejection Criteria:

Specimens that have been exposed to air (opened). Add-on requests are not acceptable. Specimens that are not properly labeled.

Clinical Info:

Bicarbonate testing may be ordered, usually as part of an electrolyte panel when:
•A doctor suspects that a patient may be retaining water or is dehydrated, upsetting their electrolyte balance
•A doctor wants to evaluate a patient's acid-base balance (pH)
•A doctor wants to monitor a condition or treatment that might cause an electrolyte imbalance

Additional Information:

The bicarbonate (or total CO2) test is usually ordered along with sodium, potassium, and chloride as part of an electrolyte panel. The electrolyte panel is used to detect, evaluate, and monitor electrolyte imbalances. It may be ordered at intervals to help monitor conditions, such as kidney disease and hypertension, When an acid-base imbalance is identified, bicarbonate (as part of the electrolyte panel) and blood gases may be ordered to evaluate the severity of the imbalance, determine whether it is primarily respiratory (due to an imbalance between the amount of oxygen coming in and CO2 being released) or metabolic (due to increased or decreased amounts of bicarbonate in the blood).

Sample Collection:

Collect patient samples using standard phlebotomy techniques. Click here for additional collection instructions.

Test Limitations:

Interpretation requires clinical information and the other electrolytes
Proper specimen collection and processing are critical for reliable testing. This test is not intended to replace the arterial blood gas (ABG) test. If an ABG is warranted please make arrangements for such testing.

Specimen Handling Instructions:

Specimens must be maintained anaerobically (unopened) to avoid loss of CO2. If specimens must be aliquoted, tightly stopper aliquot as soon as sample is transferred.

Test Information:

Components:

Brooklyn Navy Yard
Building 292, Suite 416
63 Flushing Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205

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