Table 4: List of Chemical Pathology Tests Available
NO | TEST | CONTAINER | SPECIMEN | VOLUME | FREQ | REFERENCE RANGE | NOTE | TAT (RESULT) |
Alanine Transaminase | Heparinised tube | Blood | 4 ml | Daily | Male: 0 – 41 U/L Female: 0 – 33 U/L | Done as part of Liver Function Test | 3 hours | |
Albumin | Heparinised tube | Blood | 4 ml | Daily | Adult: 35 – 52 g/L Children: 0 – 4d: 28 – 44 g/L 4d – 14 yrs: 38 – 54 g/L 14 – 18 yrs: 32 – 45 g/L | Done as part of Liver Function Test | 3 hours | |
Alkaline phosphatase | Heparinised tube | Blood | 4 ml | Daily | Adult: Male: <129 U/L Female: <104 U/L Children: 0 – 1 d : <250 U/L 2 – 5d : < 231 U/L 6d – 6 mths: < 449 U/L 7mths – 1yr: < 462 U/L 1 – 3 yrs: < 281 U/L 4 – 6 yrs: < 269 U/L 7 – 12 yrs: < 300 13 – 17 yrs(m): < 390 U/L 13 – 17 yrs(f): < 187 U/L | Done as part of Liver Function Test | 3 hours | |
Ammonia | Heparinised tube (send in ice) | Blood | 1 ml | Daily | Male: 14.7 – 55.3 µmol/L
Female: 11– 48 µmol/L
| By appointment. Refer to Special Test Procedures, page 32 | 45 minutes | |
Amylase/Diastase | Heparinised tube Universal container | Blood Random urine | 4 ml 30 ml | Daily Daily | 28 – 100 U/L Male: 16 – 491 U/L Female : 21- 447 U/L | Inhibited by oxalate and citrate | 3 hours 1 working day | |
Aspartate transaminase | Heparinised tube | Blood | 4 ml | Daily | Male: Up to 40 U/L Female: Up to 32 U/L | Done as part of Cardiac Enzymes, avoid haemolysis. | 3 hours | |
Beta-HCG, Total | Heparinised tube | Blood | 4 ml | Daily | < 5.0 IU/L | Request by specialist only | 1 working day | |
Bilirubin – total/direct (adult) | Heparinised tube | Blood | 4 ml | Daily | Total: Male: Up to 24 µmol/L Female: Up to 15 µmol/L Direct: < 5.0 µmol/L | Done as part of Liver Function Test. Do not expose to light. | 3 hours | |
Bilirubin – total/direct (neonates) | Heparinised microtainer | Blood | 0.6 ml | Daily | Total: 0 – 1d : ≤ 137 µmol/L 2 – 2d : ≤ 222 µmol/L 2 – 4d: ≤ 290 µmol/L > 4d (m): Up to 24 µmol/L > 4d (f): Up to 15 µmol/L Direct: < 5.1 µmol/L | Do not expose to light. | 3 hours | |
Blood gases | Heparinised syringe | Blood arterial | 1 ml | Daily | pH: 7.35 – 7.45 pCO2 :35 – 45 mmHg pO2 :80 – 100 mmHg Bicarb: 22 – 26 mmol/L TCO2 :23 – 27 mmol/L Base Excess: ± 3 O2 Saturation: 90 – 100% | Refer to Special Test Procedures, page 31 | 15 minutes | |
Body fluids Biochemistry (protein, glucose) | Universal container | Body fluids | 5 ml | Daily | 1 working day | |||
Calcium | Heparinised tube
| Blood | 4 ml | Daily | 0 – 10d : 1.9 – 2.6 mmol/L 10d – 2yrs : 2.25 – 2.75 mmol/L 2 – 12yrs : 2.20 – 2.70 mmol/L > 12yrs : 2.10 – 2.55 mmol/L 12-18yrs : 2.10 - 2.55 mmol/L 18-60yrs : 2.15 -2.50mmol/L 60-90yrs : 2.20 -2.55mmol/L >90yrs : 2.05 -2.40mmol/L | Avoid stasis. | 3 hours | |
24 hrs urine container | Urine | 24 hrs urine collection | Daily | 2.5 – 7.5 mmol/24h | Refer to special collection procedure | 1 working day | ||
Cannabinoids | Universal container | Urine | 50 ml | Daily | Negative | Neg: 3 working days Pos: 5 working days | ||
Chloride | Heparinised tube Universal container 24 hrs urine container | Blood Random urine Urine | 4 ml 30 ml 24 hrs urine collection | Daily Daily Daily | 98 – 107 mmol/L 110 – 250 mmol/24h | 3 hours 1 working day 1 working day | ||
Cholesterol | Heparinised tube | Blood | 4 ml | Daily | Desirable: < 5.2 mmol/L | Also done as part of Fasting Lipid Profile | 3 hours | |
C-Reactive Protein (CRP) | Heparinised tube (adult) Heparinised Microtainer (peads) | Blood Blood | 4 ml 0.6 ml | Daily Daily | < 5 mg/L < 5 mg/L | 3 hours 3 hours | ||
Creatine kinase | Heparinised tube | Blood | 4 ml | Daily | Male: 20 - 200 U/L Female: 20 – 180 U/L | Done as part of Cardiac Enzymes. Avoid haemolysis. | 3 hours | |
Creatinine | Heparinised tube
Universal container 24 hrs urine container | Blood Random urine Urine | 4 ml 30 ml 24 hrs urine collection | Daily Daily Daily | Adults: Male: 62 – 106 µmol/L Female: 44 – 80 µmol/L Children: 2d – 12m: 15 – 37 µmol/L 1 – 3yr : 21 – 36 µmol/L 3 – 5yr : 27 – 42 µmol/L 5 – 7yr : 28 – 52 µmol/L 7 – 9yr : 35 – 53 µmol/L 9 – 10yr : 34 – 65 µmol/L 11 – 13yr: 46 – 70 µmol/L Adult : 62- 106μmol/L Male: 3.45 – 22.90 mmol/L (1st morning urine) Female: 2.47 – 19.2 mmol/L (1st morning urine)
Male: 9 - 21 mmol / 24hrs Female: 7 -14 mmol/ 24hrs | Done as part of Renal Profile Refer to special collection procedure | 3 hours 1 working day 1 working day | |
Creatinine clearance | Heparinised tube and 24 hrs urine container | Blood/Urine | Blood: 4 ml Urine: 24 hrs urine collection | Daily | 71 – 151 ml/min | Refer to special collection procedure
| 1 working day | |
CSF Biochemistry Appearance Protein Globulin Glucose Chloride | Universal container | CSF | 5 ml | Daily | Clear and colourless 0.15 – 0.45 g/L Nil 2.5 – 4.5 mmol/L 120 – 130 mmol/L | 30 minutes | ||
Fat Globules | Universal container | Urine/stool | 30 ml | Daily | Negative | 1 working day | ||
Ferric chloride | Universal container | Urine | 30 ml | Daily | Negative | 1 working day | ||
Glucose (Fasting Plasma Glucose, Random Plasma Glucose, Glucose Tolerance Test) | Flouride/oxalate tube (adult) Fluoride/oxalate microtainer (peads) | Blood Blood | 2ml 0.6 ml | Daily Daily | Refer to Blood Glucose Test (page 35) | 3 hours 3 hours | ||
HbA1c | EDTA tube | Blood | 2 ml | 3 times a week | 4.0 - 6.0 (Normal) <6.5 (Treatment Target) | 3 working days | ||
HDL-Cholesterol | Heparinised tube | Blood | 4 ml | Daily | Male: > 1.45 mmol/L Female: > 1.68 mmol/L
| 3 hours | ||
Inorganic Phosphate | Heparinised tube 24 hrs urine container | Blood Urine | 4 ml 24 hrs urine collection | Daily Daily | Adults: 0.81 – 1.45 mmol/L
Children: Male Female 1-10d :1.25 – 2.25 1.40 – 2.25 1-12m : 1.15 – 2.15 1.20 – 2.10 1-3yr : 1.00 – 1.95 1.10 – 1.95 3-6yr : 1.05 – 1.80 1.05 – 1.80 6-9yr : 0.95 – 1.75 1.00 – 1.80 9-12yr: 1.05 – 1.85 1.05 – 1.70 12-15yr: 0.95 – 1.65 0.90 – 1.55 15-18yr: 0.85 – 1.60 0.80 – 1.55 12.90 – 42.0 mmol/24h | Refer to special collection procedure | 3 hours 1 working day | |
Lactate | Sodium flouride/ Potassium oxalate tube Universal container | Blood CSF | 2 ml 1 ml | Daily Daily | 0.50 – 2.20 mmol/L 0 – 1d : 1.1 – 6.7 mmol/L 3d – 18y :1.1 – 1.8 mmol/L Adult : 1.2 -2.1 mmol/L | By appointment. Refer to Special Test Procedure, page 31 | 45 minutes 30 minutes | |
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) | Heparinised tube | Blood | 4 ml | Daily | Male Female 0 – 20d: 225 -600μ/L 225 -600μ/L 20d -15y:120 -300μ/L 120 -300μ/L Adult : 135 -225μ/L 135 -214μ/L | Done as part of Cardiac Enzymes. | 3 hours | |
LDL-Cholesterol | Heparinised tube | Blood | 4 ml | Daily | < 3.9 low risk > 4.9 increased risk | LDL-Chol invalid if Tg >4.5 mmol/L | 3 hours | |
Magnesium | Heparinised tube 24 hrs urine container | Blood Urine | 4 ml 24 hrs urine collection | Daily Daily | Adults: 0.66 – 1.07 mmol/L Children: 0 – 5m : 0.62 – 0.91 mmol/L 5m – 6y : 0.70 – 0.95 mmol/L 6 – 12y : 0.70 – 0.86 mmol/L 12 – 20y : 0.70 – 0.91 mmol/L 20 -60y : 0.66 - 1.07 mmol/L 60 -90y : 0.66 - 0.99 mmol/L Adult : 0.70 - 0.95 mmol/L 3.0 – 5.0 mmol/24h | Avoid haemolysis Refer to Special Collection Procedure | 3 hours 1 working day | |
MIcroalbumin | Universal container | Urine | 30 ml | Daily | Normal: < 3.4 mg/mmol creatinine Microalbuminuria: 3.4 – 33.9 mg/mmol creatinine Clinical albuminuria: > 33.9 mmg/mmol creatinine | 1 working day | ||
Morphine | Universal container | Urine | 50 ml | Daily | Negative | Neg: 3 working days Pos: 5 working days | ||
Myoglobin | Universal container | Urine | 30 ml | Daily | Negative | 1 working day | ||
Paraquat | Universal container | Urine | 30 ml | Daily | Negative | 1 working day | ||
Porphobilinogen | Universal container | Urine | 30 ml | Daily | Negative | 1 working day | ||
Porphyrin | Universal container | Urine | 30 ml | Daily | Negative | 1 working day | ||
Potassium | Heparinised tube Universal container 24 hrs urine container | Blood Random urine Urine | 4 ml 30 ml 24 hrs urine collection | Daily Daily Daily | 3.5 – 5.1 mmol/L 25 – 125 mmol/24hr | Usually done as part of Renal Profile. Avoid haemolysis. | 3 hours 1 working day 1 working day | |
Protein Creatinine Index | Universal container | Random urine | 30 ml | Daily | < 0.02 g/mmol | 1 working days | ||
Protein, Total | Heparinised tube Universal container 24 hrs urine container | Blood Random urine Urine | 4 ml 30 ml 24 hrs urine collection | Daily Daily Daily | Adult : 66 – 87 g/L 0 -7d : 44 -76 g/L 7 -180d: 51 -73 g/L 180d -2y :56 -75 g/L 2 -3y : 60-80g/L < 0.15 g/L <0.14 g/24hr | Done as part of LFT | 3 hours 1 working day 1 working day | |
Sodium | Heparinised tube Universal container 24 hrs urine container | Blood Random urine Urine | 4 ml 30 ml 24 hrs urine collection | Daily Daily Daily | 136 – 145 mmol/L 40 – 220 mmol/24hr | Varies with intake | 3 hours 1 working day 1 working day | |
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) | Heparinised tube | Blood | 4 ml | Daily | < 3 : 0.68 – 25.0 mIU/L 4d – 30d : 0.51– 16.30 mIU/L 2m – 1y : 1.36 – 8.80 mIU/L 2y – 6y : 0.85 – 6.50 mIU/L > 7 y : 0.27 – 4.20 mIU/L | Detail clinical history is necessary. | 2 working days | |
Thyroxine, Free (Free T4) | Heparinised tube | Blood | 4 ml | Daily | < 3d : 13.5 – 38.4 pmol/L 4d – 30d : 13.0 – 33.0 pmol/L 2m – 1y : 11.0 – 26.1 pmol/L 2y – 6y : 12.10 – 22.0 pmol/L > 7y : 12.0 – 22.0 pmol/L | Detail clinical history is necessary. | 2 working days | |
Triglycerides | Heparinised tube | Blood | 4 ml | Daily | < 2.26 mmol/L | Done as part of FLP | 3 hours | |
Urea | Heparinised tube Universal container 24 hrs urine container | Blood Random urine Urine | 4 ml 30 ml 24 hrs urine collection | Daily Daily Daily | 2.78 – 8.07 mmol/L 141 -494 mmol/24hr | Done as part of Renal Profile | 3 hours 1 working day 1 working day | |
Uric acid | Heparinised tube Universal container 24 hrs urine container | Blood Random urine Urine | 4 ml 30 ml 24 hrs urine collection | Daily Daily Daily | Male: 202 – 41 µmol/L Female:143 – 339 µmol/L 1500 – 4500 µmol/24hr | 3 hours 1 working day 1 working day |