Laboratory values in the critical range will be reported by telephone immediately. On inpatients, the laboratory will attempt to phone the physician first; however, if the physician listed as the ordering physician is incorrect or does not respond within 10 minutes, the patient’s nurse will be notified.
Results will be reported only to a physician or nurse unless the location of the patient is in the recovery room, operating room, or labor & delivery and a physician or nurse cannot come to the phone.
Critical value laboratory test results will be phoned immediately to non-UC Irvine pathology referral services clients. These results can be released to a clinical laboratory scientist at the referral client location when the ordering physician is unavailable.
The urgency of the contact will be emphasized to the individual accepting the phoned report, as well as the importance of contacting the appropriate physician.
Inability to contact the requesting physician, clinic, or office after two attempts will be followed up with an attempt to reach the pathology resident on call, the clinical pathology attending on call, or the director of the specific laboratory section in which the laboratory results occurred.
| Test | Critical Low Value | Critical High Value |
|
Acid fast stain |
----- | First positive smear |
|
Amniotic fluid, culture or Gram stain |
----- | Positive |
|
Blood culture |
----- | Positive |
| Calcium | ≤6.0 mg/dL | ≥13.0 mg/dL |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) | ----- | ≥50 mEq/L |
| COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) | ----- | Detected |
| C-Reactive Protein (for Ophthalmology only) TOPHT, TEYES, ZOPHT | >0.7 mg/dL | |
| CSF, Cryptococcal antigen | ----- | Positive |
| CSF, culture or Gram stain | ----- | Positive |
| ESR (for Ophthalmology only) TOPHT, TEYES, ZOPHT. Ages >14 years | ----- | Male >15 mm/hr Female >20 mm/hr |
| ESR (for Ophthalmology only) TOPHT, TEYES, ZOPHT. Ages 0 to 14 years | ----- | Male >10 mm/hr Female >10 mm/hr |
| Glucose (1 hour post glucola) OB patients only |
----- | >200 mg/dL |
| Glucose (blood) | ≤54 mg/dL | ≥400 mg/dL |
| Glucose (CSF) | ≤40 mg/dL | ≥300 mg/dL |
| Hematocrit | <21% | ≥62% |
| Hemoglobin | <7.0 gm/dL | ≥21 gm/dL |
|
Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) |
----- | ≥2.0 IU/mL |
| Magnesium [OBER] |
≤1.0 mg/dL ----- |
≥5.0 mg/dL [≥8.0 mg/dL] |
| Malaria Smear | ----- | Any Plasmodium species |
| Nucleated cells (CSF) | ----- | >5 cells present |
| Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT) | ----- | ≥95.0 seconds |
| pH | ≤7.2 | ≥7.6 |
| Platelet Count | ≤20,000 /mm3 | >106 /mm3 |
| Potassium | ≤2.8 mEq/L | ≥6.0 mEq/L |
| Prothrombin Time (PT) | ----- | >4.0 INR |
| Sodium | ≤120 mEq/L | ≥160 mEq/L |
| Unfractionaed Heparin | ----- | ≥0.8 IU/mL |
| WBC (blood) | ≤1,000 /mm3 | ≥50,000 /mm3 |
| Therapeutic Drug Levels | ||
| Acetaminophen | ----- | >150 mcg/mL |
| Amikacin | ----- |
Peak: >35.0 mcg/mL |
| Carbamazepine | ----- | >15.0 mcg/mL |
| Cyclosporin | ----- | >450 ng/mL |
| Digoxin | ----- | >2.1 ng/mL |
| Dilantin | ----- | >20.0 mcg/mL |
| Everolimus | >15 ng/mL | |
| Gentamicin | ----- | Peak: >12.0 mcg/mL Trough: >2.0 mcg/mL |
| Lead | ----- | ≥3.5 mcg/dL (0–5 years old) ≥20 mcg/dL (6 years old and older) |
| Lithium | ----- | ≥1.5 mEq/L |
| Pentobarbital | >5 mcg/dL | |
| Phenobarbital | ----- | >50 mcg/mL |
| Salicylate | ----- | >30 mg/dL |
| Sirolimus | ----- | >25 ng/mL: Liver Transplantation >15 ng/mL: Renal Transplantation |
| Tacrolimus | ----- | >20 ng/mL |
| Theophylline | ----- | >20.0 mcg/mL |
| Tobramycin | ----- | Peak: >12.0 mcg/mL Trough: >2.0 mcg/mL |
| Valproic acid | ----- | >120 mcg/mL |
| Vancomycin | ----- | Peak: >60.0 mcg/mL Trough: >20.0 mcg/mL |
Critical Values for Transfusion Medicine
Notification of the following outcomes are documented according to Blood Bank policy and held on file in the Blood Bank.
For more information, call us toll free at 1-888-UCI-LABS
Laboratory values in the critical range will be reported by telephone immediately. On inpatients, the laboratory will attempt to phone the physician first; however, if the physician listed as the ordering physician is incorrect or does not respond within 10 minutes, the patient’s nurse will be notified.
Results will be reported only to a physician or nurse unless the location of the patient is in the recovery room, operating room, or labor & delivery and a physician or nurse cannot come to the phone.
Critical value laboratory test results will be phoned immediately to non-UC Irvine pathology referral services clients. These results can be released to a clinical laboratory scientist at the referral client location when the ordering physician is unavailable.
The urgency of the contact will be emphasized to the individual accepting the phoned report, as well as the importance of contacting the appropriate physician.
Inability to contact the requesting physician, clinic, or office after two attempts will be followed up with an attempt to reach the pathology resident on call, the clinical pathology attending on call, or the director of the specific laboratory section in which the laboratory results occurred.
| Test | Critical Low Value | Critical High Value |
|
Acid fast stain |
----- | First positive smear |
|
Amniotic fluid, culture or Gram stain |
----- | Positive |
|
Blood culture |
----- | Positive |
| Calcium | ≤6.0 mg/dL | ≥13.0 mg/dL |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) | ----- | ≥50 mEq/L |
| COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) | ----- | Detected |
| C-Reactive Protein (for Ophthalmology only) TOPHT, TEYES, ZOPHT | >0.7 mg/dL | |
| CSF, Cryptococcal antigen | ----- | Positive |
| CSF, culture or Gram stain | ----- | Positive |
| ESR (for Ophthalmology only) TOPHT, TEYES, ZOPHT. Ages >14 years | ----- | Male >15 mm/hr Female >20 mm/hr |
| ESR (for Ophthalmology only) TOPHT, TEYES, ZOPHT. Ages 0 to 14 years | ----- | Male >10 mm/hr Female >10 mm/hr |
| Glucose (1 hour post glucola) OB patients only |
----- | >200 mg/dL |
| Glucose (blood) | ≤54 mg/dL | ≥400 mg/dL |
| Glucose (CSF) | ≤40 mg/dL | ≥300 mg/dL |
| Hematocrit | <21% | ≥62% |
| Hemoglobin | <7.0 gm/dL | ≥21 gm/dL |
|
Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) |
----- | ≥2.0 IU/mL |
| Magnesium [OBER] |
≤1.0 mg/dL ----- |
≥5.0 mg/dL [≥8.0 mg/dL] |
| Malaria Smear | ----- | Any Plasmodium species |
| Nucleated cells (CSF) | ----- | >5 cells present |
| Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT) | ----- | ≥95.0 seconds |
| pH | ≤7.2 | ≥7.6 |
| Platelet Count | ≤20,000 /mm3 | >106 /mm3 |
| Potassium | ≤2.8 mEq/L | ≥6.0 mEq/L |
| Prothrombin Time (PT) | ----- | >4.0 INR |
| Sodium | ≤120 mEq/L | ≥160 mEq/L |
| Unfractionaed Heparin | ----- | ≥0.8 IU/mL |
| WBC (blood) | ≤1,000 /mm3 | ≥50,000 /mm3 |
| Therapeutic Drug Levels | ||
| Acetaminophen | ----- | >150 mcg/mL |
| Amikacin | ----- |
Peak: >35.0 mcg/mL |
| Carbamazepine | ----- | >15.0 mcg/mL |
| Cyclosporin | ----- | >450 ng/mL |
| Digoxin | ----- | >2.1 ng/mL |
| Dilantin | ----- | >20.0 mcg/mL |
| Everolimus | >15 ng/mL | |
| Gentamicin | ----- | Peak: >12.0 mcg/mL Trough: >2.0 mcg/mL |
| Lead | ----- | ≥3.5 mcg/dL (0–5 years old) ≥20 mcg/dL (6 years old and older) |
| Lithium | ----- | ≥1.5 mEq/L |
| Pentobarbital | >5 mcg/dL | |
| Phenobarbital | ----- | >50 mcg/mL |
| Salicylate | ----- | >30 mg/dL |
| Sirolimus | ----- | >25 ng/mL: Liver Transplantation >15 ng/mL: Renal Transplantation |
| Tacrolimus | ----- | >20 ng/mL |
| Theophylline | ----- | >20.0 mcg/mL |
| Tobramycin | ----- | Peak: >12.0 mcg/mL Trough: >2.0 mcg/mL |
| Valproic acid | ----- | >120 mcg/mL |
| Vancomycin | ----- | Peak: >60.0 mcg/mL Trough: >20.0 mcg/mL |
Critical Values for Transfusion Medicine
Notification of the following outcomes are documented according to Blood Bank policy and held on file in the Blood Bank.
For more information, call us toll free at 1-888-UCI-LABS
| Collection |
| Test Info |
Laboratory values in the critical range will be reported by telephone immediately. On inpatients, the laboratory will attempt to phone the physician first; however, if the physician listed as the ordering physician is incorrect or does not respond within 10 minutes, the patient’s nurse will be notified.
Results will be reported only to a physician or nurse unless the location of the patient is in the recovery room, operating room, or labor & delivery and a physician or nurse cannot come to the phone.
Critical value laboratory test results will be phoned immediately to non-UC Irvine pathology referral services clients. These results can be released to a clinical laboratory scientist at the referral client location when the ordering physician is unavailable.
The urgency of the contact will be emphasized to the individual accepting the phoned report, as well as the importance of contacting the appropriate physician.
Inability to contact the requesting physician, clinic, or office after two attempts will be followed up with an attempt to reach the pathology resident on call, the clinical pathology attending on call, or the director of the specific laboratory section in which the laboratory results occurred.
| Test | Critical Low Value | Critical High Value |
|
Acid fast stain |
----- | First positive smear |
|
Amniotic fluid, culture or Gram stain |
----- | Positive |
|
Blood culture |
----- | Positive |
| Calcium | ≤6.0 mg/dL | ≥13.0 mg/dL |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) | ----- | ≥50 mEq/L |
| COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) | ----- | Detected |
| C-Reactive Protein (for Ophthalmology only) TOPHT, TEYES, ZOPHT | >0.7 mg/dL | |
| CSF, Cryptococcal antigen | ----- | Positive |
| CSF, culture or Gram stain | ----- | Positive |
| ESR (for Ophthalmology only) TOPHT, TEYES, ZOPHT. Ages >14 years | ----- | Male >15 mm/hr Female >20 mm/hr |
| ESR (for Ophthalmology only) TOPHT, TEYES, ZOPHT. Ages 0 to 14 years | ----- | Male >10 mm/hr Female >10 mm/hr |
| Glucose (1 hour post glucola) OB patients only |
----- | >200 mg/dL |
| Glucose (blood) | ≤54 mg/dL | ≥400 mg/dL |
| Glucose (CSF) | ≤40 mg/dL | ≥300 mg/dL |
| Hematocrit | <21% | ≥62% |
| Hemoglobin | <7.0 gm/dL | ≥21 gm/dL |
|
Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) |
----- | ≥2.0 IU/mL |
| Magnesium [OBER] |
≤1.0 mg/dL ----- |
≥5.0 mg/dL [≥8.0 mg/dL] |
| Malaria Smear | ----- | Any Plasmodium species |
| Nucleated cells (CSF) | ----- | >5 cells present |
| Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT) | ----- | ≥95.0 seconds |
| pH | ≤7.2 | ≥7.6 |
| Platelet Count | ≤20,000 /mm3 | >106 /mm3 |
| Potassium | ≤2.8 mEq/L | ≥6.0 mEq/L |
| Prothrombin Time (PT) | ----- | >4.0 INR |
| Sodium | ≤120 mEq/L | ≥160 mEq/L |
| Unfractionaed Heparin | ----- | ≥0.8 IU/mL |
| WBC (blood) | ≤1,000 /mm3 | ≥50,000 /mm3 |
| Therapeutic Drug Levels | ||
| Acetaminophen | ----- | >150 mcg/mL |
| Amikacin | ----- |
Peak: >35.0 mcg/mL |
| Carbamazepine | ----- | >15.0 mcg/mL |
| Cyclosporin | ----- | >450 ng/mL |
| Digoxin | ----- | >2.1 ng/mL |
| Dilantin | ----- | >20.0 mcg/mL |
| Everolimus | >15 ng/mL | |
| Gentamicin | ----- | Peak: >12.0 mcg/mL Trough: >2.0 mcg/mL |
| Lead | ----- | ≥3.5 mcg/dL (0–5 years old) ≥20 mcg/dL (6 years old and older) |
| Lithium | ----- | ≥1.5 mEq/L |
| Pentobarbital | >5 mcg/dL | |
| Phenobarbital | ----- | >50 mcg/mL |
| Salicylate | ----- | >30 mg/dL |
| Sirolimus | ----- | >25 ng/mL: Liver Transplantation >15 ng/mL: Renal Transplantation |
| Tacrolimus | ----- | >20 ng/mL |
| Theophylline | ----- | >20.0 mcg/mL |
| Tobramycin | ----- | Peak: >12.0 mcg/mL Trough: >2.0 mcg/mL |
| Valproic acid | ----- | >120 mcg/mL |
| Vancomycin | ----- | Peak: >60.0 mcg/mL Trough: >20.0 mcg/mL |
Critical Values for Transfusion Medicine
Notification of the following outcomes are documented according to Blood Bank policy and held on file in the Blood Bank.
For more information, call us toll free at 1-888-UCI-LABS
| Result Interpretation |
Laboratory values in the critical range will be reported by telephone immediately. On inpatients, the laboratory will attempt to phone the physician first; however, if the physician listed as the ordering physician is incorrect or does not respond within 10 minutes, the patient’s nurse will be notified.
Results will be reported only to a physician or nurse unless the location of the patient is in the recovery room, operating room, or labor & delivery and a physician or nurse cannot come to the phone.
Critical value laboratory test results will be phoned immediately to non-UC Irvine pathology referral services clients. These results can be released to a clinical laboratory scientist at the referral client location when the ordering physician is unavailable.
The urgency of the contact will be emphasized to the individual accepting the phoned report, as well as the importance of contacting the appropriate physician.
Inability to contact the requesting physician, clinic, or office after two attempts will be followed up with an attempt to reach the pathology resident on call, the clinical pathology attending on call, or the director of the specific laboratory section in which the laboratory results occurred.
| Test | Critical Low Value | Critical High Value |
|
Acid fast stain |
----- | First positive smear |
|
Amniotic fluid, culture or Gram stain |
----- | Positive |
|
Blood culture |
----- | Positive |
| Calcium | ≤6.0 mg/dL | ≥13.0 mg/dL |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) | ----- | ≥50 mEq/L |
| COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) | ----- | Detected |
| C-Reactive Protein (for Ophthalmology only) TOPHT, TEYES, ZOPHT | >0.7 mg/dL | |
| CSF, Cryptococcal antigen | ----- | Positive |
| CSF, culture or Gram stain | ----- | Positive |
| ESR (for Ophthalmology only) TOPHT, TEYES, ZOPHT. Ages >14 years | ----- | Male >15 mm/hr Female >20 mm/hr |
| ESR (for Ophthalmology only) TOPHT, TEYES, ZOPHT. Ages 0 to 14 years | ----- | Male >10 mm/hr Female >10 mm/hr |
| Glucose (1 hour post glucola) OB patients only |
----- | >200 mg/dL |
| Glucose (blood) | ≤54 mg/dL | ≥400 mg/dL |
| Glucose (CSF) | ≤40 mg/dL | ≥300 mg/dL |
| Hematocrit | <21% | ≥62% |
| Hemoglobin | <7.0 gm/dL | ≥21 gm/dL |
|
Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) |
----- | ≥2.0 IU/mL |
| Magnesium [OBER] |
≤1.0 mg/dL ----- |
≥5.0 mg/dL [≥8.0 mg/dL] |
| Malaria Smear | ----- | Any Plasmodium species |
| Nucleated cells (CSF) | ----- | >5 cells present |
| Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT) | ----- | ≥95.0 seconds |
| pH | ≤7.2 | ≥7.6 |
| Platelet Count | ≤20,000 /mm3 | >106 /mm3 |
| Potassium | ≤2.8 mEq/L | ≥6.0 mEq/L |
| Prothrombin Time (PT) | ----- | >4.0 INR |
| Sodium | ≤120 mEq/L | ≥160 mEq/L |
| Unfractionaed Heparin | ----- | ≥0.8 IU/mL |
| WBC (blood) | ≤1,000 /mm3 | ≥50,000 /mm3 |
| Therapeutic Drug Levels | ||
| Acetaminophen | ----- | >150 mcg/mL |
| Amikacin | ----- |
Peak: >35.0 mcg/mL |
| Carbamazepine | ----- | >15.0 mcg/mL |
| Cyclosporin | ----- | >450 ng/mL |
| Digoxin | ----- | >2.1 ng/mL |
| Dilantin | ----- | >20.0 mcg/mL |
| Everolimus | >15 ng/mL | |
| Gentamicin | ----- | Peak: >12.0 mcg/mL Trough: >2.0 mcg/mL |
| Lead | ----- | ≥3.5 mcg/dL (0–5 years old) ≥20 mcg/dL (6 years old and older) |
| Lithium | ----- | ≥1.5 mEq/L |
| Pentobarbital | >5 mcg/dL | |
| Phenobarbital | ----- | >50 mcg/mL |
| Salicylate | ----- | >30 mg/dL |
| Sirolimus | ----- | >25 ng/mL: Liver Transplantation >15 ng/mL: Renal Transplantation |
| Tacrolimus | ----- | >20 ng/mL |
| Theophylline | ----- | >20.0 mcg/mL |
| Tobramycin | ----- | Peak: >12.0 mcg/mL Trough: >2.0 mcg/mL |
| Valproic acid | ----- | >120 mcg/mL |
| Vancomycin | ----- | Peak: >60.0 mcg/mL Trough: >20.0 mcg/mL |
Critical Values for Transfusion Medicine
Notification of the following outcomes are documented according to Blood Bank policy and held on file in the Blood Bank.
For more information, call us toll free at 1-888-UCI-LABS
| NICU/Pediatric Info |
