Performed

Daily

Methodology

Ion-Selective Electrode

Reported

Stat: 30 minutes

Synonyms

  • Ionized Calcium Blood Level
  • Calcium, Ionized Blood Level
  • Free Calcium Blood Level
  • Arterial Ionized Calcium
  • Ionized Calcium, Arterial
  • Ionized CA, Arterial
  • CA, Ionized
  • Blood Gas Analysis
  • iCa
  • Chemistry Laboratories

Performing Lab

Chemistry (Rapid Response Labs Only)

Add-on Eligibility

NO

Patient Preparation

  1. Specimens are collected by nursing or respiratory staff.
  2. A steady state of ventilation should be achieved before obtaining arterial blood specimens. 20 - 30 minutes of stable ventilatory status are desired for spontaneously breathing patients.
  3. Other patients may require more than 30 minutes to equilibrate following ventilatory changes.  Less time may elapse for specific applications, such as obtaining confirmation that a change in ventilator settings is having the desired effect, without waiting for complete equilibration.

Specimen Type

Arterial Whole Blood
*Arterial blood is routinely obtained from the radial, femoral, or brachial arteries

Specimen Volume

Adult: 3 mL (Minimum: 2.25 mL)
  • Syringe must be at least 3/4 full
Pediatric (< 6 months old only): 1 mL (Minimum: 0.75 mL)
  • Syringe must be at least 3/4 full

Collection Container

3 mL Heparinized Syringe (Light Blue Cap Syringe)
 
 

Pediatric Collection

< 6 months of age ONLY:
*Only accepted from NICU
 
1 mL Heparinized Syringe (Light Blue Cap Syringe)
​​​​

Unacceptable Conditions

  1. Hemolyzed specimens
  2. Clotted Specimens
  3. Specimens that have been improperly collected, stored, or transported
  • Specimens collected in syringes containing the following additives:
    • EDTA
    • Sodium Citrate
    • Oxalate
    • Fluoride
  • Specimens sent using the pneumatic tube system
  • Specimens not tested within 30 minutes of collection
  • Specimens that are are less than 3/4 full
  • Syringes containing trapped air bubbles
  • 1 mL heparinized syringes received for patients older than 6 months or from floors other than the NICU
  • Syringes received with needle attached
  • Specimens that have been frozen or are received on-ice
  1. Unlabeled or mislabeled specimens

Storage/Transport Temperature

Transport Instructions
Collection Location Specimen Type Transport Temperature Processing Required Timeframe
ED/Inpatient Syringe Room Temperature Immediately remove any air bubbles from the syringe. Gently invert the specimen immediately after collection. Specimen must be received by the lab within 10 minutes of collection

Storage: Room Temperature

Stability (from collection to initiation)

Stability:
  • Room Temperature: 30 minutes
  • Refrigerated: Unacceptable
  • Frozen: Unacceptable

Laboratory Storage: Room Temperature
Laboratory Retention: Discarded immediately after performing test

Collection Instructions

Labeling Instructions:
  1. When labeling syringes, leave a small window visible for the lab to assess the fill volume and sample integrity.
  • It may not be possible to leave a window on 1 mL pediatric syringes
  1. Ensure that the barcode is in the correct orientation.
  
Collection Instructions:
  1. Collect Arterial Whole Blood from the radial, femoral, or brachial arteries
  2. Ensure that the syringe is at least 3/4 full
 
  1. Remove any air bubbles from the specimen immediately
  2. Gently invert the specimen immediately after collection to prevent clotting
  • Avoid mixing the specimen too vigorously as this can result in hemolyzation
  1. Immediately walk the specimen to the lab.

Reference Interval

Adults: 1.13 - 1.32 mmol/L
Ordering

Performed

Daily

Methodology

Ion-Selective Electrode

Reported

Stat: 30 minutes

Synonyms

  • Ionized Calcium Blood Level
  • Calcium, Ionized Blood Level
  • Free Calcium Blood Level
  • Arterial Ionized Calcium
  • Ionized Calcium, Arterial
  • Ionized CA, Arterial
  • CA, Ionized
  • Blood Gas Analysis
  • iCa
  • Chemistry Laboratories

Performing Lab

Chemistry (Rapid Response Labs Only)

Add-on Eligibility

NO
Collection

Patient Preparation

  1. Specimens are collected by nursing or respiratory staff.
  2. A steady state of ventilation should be achieved before obtaining arterial blood specimens. 20 - 30 minutes of stable ventilatory status are desired for spontaneously breathing patients.
  3. Other patients may require more than 30 minutes to equilibrate following ventilatory changes.  Less time may elapse for specific applications, such as obtaining confirmation that a change in ventilator settings is having the desired effect, without waiting for complete equilibration.

Specimen Type

Arterial Whole Blood
*Arterial blood is routinely obtained from the radial, femoral, or brachial arteries

Specimen Volume

Adult: 3 mL (Minimum: 2.25 mL)
  • Syringe must be at least 3/4 full
Pediatric (< 6 months old only): 1 mL (Minimum: 0.75 mL)
  • Syringe must be at least 3/4 full

Collection Container

3 mL Heparinized Syringe (Light Blue Cap Syringe)
 
 

Pediatric Collection

< 6 months of age ONLY:
*Only accepted from NICU
 
1 mL Heparinized Syringe (Light Blue Cap Syringe)
​​​​

Unacceptable Conditions

  1. Hemolyzed specimens
  2. Clotted Specimens
  3. Specimens that have been improperly collected, stored, or transported
  • Specimens collected in syringes containing the following additives:
    • EDTA
    • Sodium Citrate
    • Oxalate
    • Fluoride
  • Specimens sent using the pneumatic tube system
  • Specimens not tested within 30 minutes of collection
  • Specimens that are are less than 3/4 full
  • Syringes containing trapped air bubbles
  • 1 mL heparinized syringes received for patients older than 6 months or from floors other than the NICU
  • Syringes received with needle attached
  • Specimens that have been frozen or are received on-ice
  1. Unlabeled or mislabeled specimens

Storage/Transport Temperature

Transport Instructions
Collection Location Specimen Type Transport Temperature Processing Required Timeframe
ED/Inpatient Syringe Room Temperature Immediately remove any air bubbles from the syringe. Gently invert the specimen immediately after collection. Specimen must be received by the lab within 10 minutes of collection

Storage: Room Temperature

Stability (from collection to initiation)

Stability:
  • Room Temperature: 30 minutes
  • Refrigerated: Unacceptable
  • Frozen: Unacceptable

Laboratory Storage: Room Temperature
Laboratory Retention: Discarded immediately after performing test

Collection Instructions

Labeling Instructions:
  1. When labeling syringes, leave a small window visible for the lab to assess the fill volume and sample integrity.
  • It may not be possible to leave a window on 1 mL pediatric syringes
  1. Ensure that the barcode is in the correct orientation.
  
Collection Instructions:
  1. Collect Arterial Whole Blood from the radial, femoral, or brachial arteries
  2. Ensure that the syringe is at least 3/4 full
 
  1. Remove any air bubbles from the specimen immediately
  2. Gently invert the specimen immediately after collection to prevent clotting
  • Avoid mixing the specimen too vigorously as this can result in hemolyzation
  1. Immediately walk the specimen to the lab.
Result Interpretation

Reference Interval

Adults: 1.13 - 1.32 mmol/L

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