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22877 Methemoglobin

Methemoglobin
Test Code: METH
Specimen Requirements
Fasting Required Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
​NoWhole blood​
Lithium or Sodium-heparin Green Top (GTT)
EDTA Lavender Top (LTT)​
Heparinized Syringe​5 mL​3 mL​140 uL (long heparinized capillary) for infants ​
Collection Processing Instructions
Tube specimen should be full and unopened. Place specimen on wet ice and deliver specimen to Lab immediately after collection. Indicate collection time.
 
Test should be performed within 4 hours of drawing, but will be accepted up to 24 hours. Indicate collection time.​
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
Whole Blood​ ​ Ambient​ 1 hour​
Refrigerate​ 24 hours​
Rejection Criteria
Samples >24 hours old
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
Diagnostic Treatment Center​​Monday though Sunday​​Less than 2 hours​​Co-oximeter Multi-wavelength Spectrophotometry/Radiometer
Flambeau Hospital​​Monday though Sunday​​Less than 2 hours​​Co-oximeter Multi-wavelength Spectrophotometry/Gem 4000
Marshfield​Monday though Sunday​Less than 2 hours​Co-oximeter Multi-wavelength Spectrophotometry/Roche Cobas b221  ​
Test Information
MetHb will slowly revert to hemoglobin leading to lower values; accordingly slight elevations may not be detectable with prolonged delays (> 4 hrs) in receiving referred samples. Recovery of MetHb from blood samples stored on ice after delays of 8 hr. and 24 hr. is approximately 84% and 60% of the original value, respectively.​
Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
All Performing Sites All Ages: 0.0 - 1.5%
Cyanosis occurs at methemoglobin levels > 10% of total hemoglobin.​
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
83050 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
Ordering Applications
Ordering Application Description
​Centricity ​Methemoglobin (Meth)
​Cerner ​Methemoglobin Quantitative
If the ordering application you are looking for is not listed, contact your local laboratory for assistance.
Specimen Requirements
Fasting Required Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
​NoWhole blood​
Lithium or Sodium-heparin Green Top (GTT)
EDTA Lavender Top (LTT)​
Heparinized Syringe​5 mL​3 mL​140 uL (long heparinized capillary) for infants ​
Collection Processing
Tube specimen should be full and unopened. Place specimen on wet ice and deliver specimen to Lab immediately after collection. Indicate collection time.
 
Test should be performed within 4 hours of drawing, but will be accepted up to 24 hours. Indicate collection time.​
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
Whole Blood​ ​ Ambient​ 1 hour​
Refrigerate​ 24 hours​
Rejection Criteria
Samples >24 hours old
Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
All Performing Sites All Ages: 0.0 - 1.5%
Cyanosis occurs at methemoglobin levels > 10% of total hemoglobin.​
For more information visit:
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
Diagnostic Treatment Center​​Monday though Sunday​​Less than 2 hours​​Co-oximeter Multi-wavelength Spectrophotometry/Radiometer
Flambeau Hospital​​Monday though Sunday​​Less than 2 hours​​Co-oximeter Multi-wavelength Spectrophotometry/Gem 4000
Marshfield​Monday though Sunday​Less than 2 hours​Co-oximeter Multi-wavelength Spectrophotometry/Roche Cobas b221  ​
For billing questions, see Contacts
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
83050 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
For most current information refer to the Marshfield Laboratory online reference manual.