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Lab Dept:
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Chemistry
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Test Name:
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CO2 TOTAL
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General Information
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Lab Order Codes:
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TCO2
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Synonyms:
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Bicarb, Bicarbonate, Carbon Dioxide, Total; CO2
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CPT Codes:
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82374 – Carbon dioxide (bicarbonate)
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Test Includes:
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CO2 concentration in mEq/L. Total CO2 is also included in the following panels: Electrolyte Panel, Basic Metabolic Panel, Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, Renal Panel
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Logistics
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Test Indications:
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Useful for evaluation of acid-base balance and the body’s ability to control pH. Bicarbonate ion is the principle transport form for CO2.
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Lab Testing Sections:
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Chemistry
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Phone Numbers:
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MIN Lab: 612-813-6280
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STP Lab: 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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30 minutes
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Special Instructions:
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N/A
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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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Preferred: Green top (Li Heparin) tube
Alternate: Red top tube
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Draw Volume:
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0.6 mL blood
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Processed Volume:
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0.2 mL plasma/serum
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Collection:
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Collect venous sample anaerobically or minimize exposure to air for TCO2.
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Special Processing:
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Lab Staff: Centrifuge specimen, remove serum/plasma aliquot into plastic sample cup. Analyze sample immediately or store at refrigerated temperatures. Once the sample is opened (uncapped), the sample must be processed within 1 hour for TCO2.
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Patient Preparation:
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None
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Sample Rejection:
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Mislabeled or unlabeled specimens; sample submitted in incorrect tube
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Interpretive
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Reference Range:
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18 - 26 mEq/L
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Critical Values:
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<10 or >40 mEq/L
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Limitations:
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● CO2 decreases when uncapped specimens are exposed to air.
● Underfilling of vacutainer collection tubes may decrease CO2 results by as much as 3 mEq/L.
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Methodology:
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Enzymatic Carbonate
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References:
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ECO2 Flex® reagent cartridge insert sheet Part number 717137.101 Version F (2008-06-09)
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Dimension RxL MAX Operator’s Guide (05/2003)
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Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry (1999) 3rd Edition, W.B. Saunders Company
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Clinical Significance, Dade Behring Inc., Glasgow Business Community, Mailbox 531, P.O. Box 6101, Newark, Delaware 19714
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Jacobs & DeMott Laboratory Test Handbook (2001) Lexi-Comp, Inc, Hudson, OH, 5th Edition, 2001
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Updates:
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2/14/2005: Critical values previously listed as <10 to >35 mEq/L.
8/19/2009: Turnaround time previously listed as 2 hours.
4/24/2013: Conversion to enzymatic CO2 on backup instruments.
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