Critical Values - - Patient Care University of Washington Laboratory Medicine
Critical values are those results that indicate a high risk of morbidity or mortality in the absence of rapid intervention to treat the abnormal value or its underlying cause.
It is the policy of the laboratory to notify the ordering location of any laboratory results which are so far from the reference range that they indicate a potentially dangerous condition requiring immediate attention by the clinician. The ordering locations are notified even to those areas with computer printers or terminals. Critical Laboratory results are always reported by telephone. In accordance with The Joint Commission (TJC) requirements, it is required that we request and receive a read-back of results to ensure that the results were properly noted by the recipient.
ANALYTE | CRITICAL VALUES |
| Absolute Neutrophil (non-oncology) | <0 .5="" mcl="" td="" thou=""> |
| Bilirubin, newborn (under 30 days old) | >12.0 mg/dL |
Blood Gases, Adult
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Blood Gases, Newborn (under 30 days old)
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| Calcium, ionized | <0 .78="" or="">1.58 mmol/L |
| Calcium, total | <6 .0="" or="">13.0 mg/dL |
| Carbon Dioxide | <10 or="">40 meq/L |
| Carbon Monoxide | >20% |
| Fibrinogen | <100 dl="" mg="" td=""> |
Glucose
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| Glucose, CSF | <20 dl="" mg="" td=""> |
Glucose, POCT
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| Hematocrit | <20 td=""> |
Hemoglobin by oximetry
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| Heparin Induced Platelet Antibodies | Positive |
| Lead | ≥70 mcg/dL |
| Magnesium | <1 .2="" or="">4.7 mg/dL |
| Methemoglobin | >30.0 % |
| Osmolality | <250 or="">350 mOsm/kg |
| Partial thromboplastin time | >120 sec |
| Phosphate | <1 .0="" dl="" mg="" td=""> |
Platelet Count
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| Potassium | <2 .5="" or="">6.0 meq/L |
| Prothrombin Time | INR >5 |
| Sodium | <120 or="">160 meq/L |
| Sodium, CSF | <120 or="">160 meq/L |
T4
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| Troponin I | ≥0.40 ng/mL (first critical value per 24 hour period for each patient) |
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