Laboratory Critical Values List

Critical lab results are defined by the Medical Director Age groups are defined as follows: Neonatal < 30 days,
as values that indicate the need for immediate interven- Peds 30 days to 16 years, Adults > 16 years. If no age
tion by the patient’s physician or responsible healthcare group is specified, the values listed belong to all age
provider. The following test results are considered critical groups. (n/a = not applicable)
lab values and will be called immediately.

Analytes Age Group Critical Low Critical High/*Toxic Units

Acetaminophen n/a > 140 ug/mL
Alcohol (ETOH) n/a > 400 mg/dL
Amikacin Trough n/a > 10* ug/mL
Peak n/a > 35* ug/mL
Bicarbonate (CO2) Adult/Peds < 10 > 40 mEq/L
Neonatal < 15 > 40 mEq/L
Blood Cultures Positive Smears
(only the first positive smear is called)

BUN Neonatal n/a > 40 mg/dL

Peds n/a > 70 mg/dL
Adult n/a > 100 mg/dL
Calcium Adult/Peds < 6.0 > 13 mg/dL
Neonatal < 6.0 > 12 mg/dL
Calcium, Ionized Neonatal < 0.8 > 1.7 mmol/L
Clostridium perfringens Gram Stains and Isolates
(from sites not contaminated with normal bowel flora)

Creatinine - Neonatal n/a > 2.0 mg/dL

CSF Gram Stain Positive Results
CSF Cryptococcus Antigen Positive Results
CSF Culture Positive Results
Cultures, Neonatal Any Positive Result Including Urine
> 1000 Colonies
Cyclosporine - Trough n/a > 300 ug/mL
Digoxin > 2.5 ng/dL
Dilantin (Phenytoin) > 30 ug/mL
Fetal Fibronectin Positive
Fibrinogen < 100 n/a mg/dL
Gentamicin Trough n/a > 2* ug/mL
Peak - Adult n/a > 12* ug/mL
Peak - Peds, Neonatal n/a > 12* ug/mL
Glucose Adult/Peds < 40 > 450 mg/dL
Neonatal < 30 > 200 mg/dL
Hematocrit, Neonatal 0-24 hours < 35.0 >65.0 %
>24 hours <25.0 >70.0 %
Hemoglobin Adult/Peds < 7.0 > 20.0 gm/dL
Neonatal < 9.0 > 25.0 gm/dL
Hep Induced Platlet Aggreg Positive
Hep PF4 EIA Assay Positive
HIPA - Serotonin Release Positive
Intraocular Surgical Eye Specimens Positive Gram Stains and Isolates
Ketones w/Positive Glucose n/a > 80 mg/dL
Lactic Acid - Delnor ≥ 36.0 mg/dL
Lactic Acid - CDH ≥ 45.0 mgdL
Lithium n/a > 1.5 mEq/L

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Analytes Age Group Critical Low Critical High/*Toxic Units
Mg++ < 1.0 > 4.9 mg/dL
Phenobarbital n/a > 40 ug/mL
Phosphorus Adult < 1.0 n/a mg/dL
Peds/Neonatal < 1.0 > 11 mg/dL
Platelet Count Adult/Peds < 20 > 1000 k/cmm
Neonatal < 50 > 1000 k/cmm
Porphobilinogen n/a Positive
Potassium (K+) Adult/Peds < 2.8 > 6.2 mEq/L
Neonatal < 3.0 > 7.0 mEq/L
Protime (INR) n/a > 4.5
PTT Non-heparinized patient n/a > 85 sec
Heparinized patient > 240 sec
RSV, Neonatal (Rapid or Culture) Any Positive Result
Salicylate n/a > 30 mg/dL
Sodium Adult < 120 > 160 mEq/L
Peds < 125 > 160 mEq/L
Neonatal < 125 > 150 mEq/L
Theophylline n/a > 20 ug/mL
Tobramycin Trough n/a > 2* ug/mL
Peak n/a > 12* ug/mL
Total Bili - Neonatal n/a > 15 mg/dL
Tracheal Aspirate, Neonatal Stat Gram Stains
Transfusion Reaction - Work Up Positive Results
Triglyceride Neonatal n/a > 200 mg/dL
Troponin (Delnor Only) Call only initial result unless result doubles > 0.100 ng/dL
WBC Adult/Peds < 2.0 > 50.0 k/cmm
Neonatal < 4.0 > 35.0 k/cmm

Revised 06-2016

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