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Lab Dept:
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Chemistry
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Test Name:
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LEAD LEVEL
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General Information
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Lab Order Codes:
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PB
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Synonyms:
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Blood Lead; Pb
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CPT Codes:
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83655 - Lead
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Test Includes:
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Blood lead concentration reported in ug/dL.
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Logistics
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Test Indications:
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Lead is a heavy metal commonly found in the environment. Lead can be an acute and chronic toxin. Young children are particularly prone to the affects of lead because they have a greater opportunity for exposure.
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Lab Testing Sections:
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Chemistry
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Phone Numbers:
Minneapolis:
Saint Paul:
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612-813-6280
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651-220-6550
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Test Availability:
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Daily, 24 hours
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Turnaround Time:
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1 – 4 days, test performed twice weekly on Monday and Thursday. If a holiday falls on a Monday or Thursday, testing will be performed on the next regular work day (Monday–Friday).
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Special Instructions:
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See Collection
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Specimen
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Specimen Type:
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Whole blood
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Container:
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Green top (Li Heparin) tube preferred (2.7 mL tubes or larger)
DO NOT use green top microtainer gel tubes.
Alternate: Lavender top (EDTA) tube
Note: Microtainers preferred for minimum volume when drawn into EDTA tubes only.
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Draw Volume:
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Venous: Minimum: 1 mL blood (full tube capacity, preferred)
Capillary: 0.5 mL blood
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Processed Volume:
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Same as draw volume
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Collection:
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Venous samples are preferred by routine venipuncture. Capillary specimens collected with scrupulous hand washing, will be accepted with the restriction that elevated lead must be confirmed with a venous sample.
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Special Processing:
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Lab Staff: Do Not centrifuge. Samples should remain as whole blood in original collection tube. Store at refrigerated temperatures.
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Patient Preparation:
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None
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Sample Rejection:
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Mislabeled or unlabeled specimen, clotted specimen
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Interpretive
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Reference Range:
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<10 ug/dL
All blood lead results are reported to the MN Department of Health.
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Critical Values:
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>30 ug/dL
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Limitations:
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N/A
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Methodology:
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Atomic Absorption, Graphite Furnace
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References:
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Tietz (1999) Textbook of Clinical Chemistry, 3rd edition, Philadelphia, WB Saunders Co, pp 989-990
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St. Paul Public Health Department Blood Lead Procedure
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NCCLS Approved Guideline C40-A, Analytical Procedures for the Determination of Lead in Blood and Urine, Vol 21, No 9, June 2001
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Updates:
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6/11/2007: Microtainer green top gel tubes are not acceptable containers for lead collections.
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