| Ordering Code | 198 |
|---|---|
| Test Name | Lithium |
| Alias | LI |
| Preferred Specimen | Plasma |
| Preferred Container | EDTA, K2 (Lavender) |
| Other Specimen/Container | Serum in SST (Gold), Serum in Plain (Red) |
| Optimum Volume | 1 mL |
| Collection Instructions | It is recommended to measure the steady-state concentration representing the trough level just before the next scheduled dose. |
| Handling Instructions | All specimen types must be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection. If no gel separation present in tube and testing is delayed, serum is aliquoted from cells within 4 hours of collection. |
| Transport Requirements | Oahu: Refrigerated (Aliquot) Airline: Refrigerated (Aliquot) Send Frozen if transport >7 Days |
| Specimen Stability | Refrigerated: 1 Week Frozen: 1 Year (Aliquot) Frozen samples should be thawed only once. |
| Rejection Criteria | Grossly hemolyzed, Insufficient quantity, Lithium Heparin plasma received, Specimen older than stability limits |
| Avail. Stat | YES |
| Analytic Time | 1 Day |
| Methodology | Colorimetric/Endpoint - Spectrophotometric |
Reference range(s)
The reference ranges listed below are valid on this date of March 11, 2026.
| Component | Age | Male Norm | Male Critical Low | Male Critical High | Female Norm | Female Critical High | Female Critical Low | Units | Add'l info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lithium | ALL | 0.6-1.2 | >= 1.6 | 0.6-1.2 | >= 1.6 | mmol/L |