A CRITICAL VALUE is a threshold value above which, or below which,
a particular management action is recommended. Good laboratory practise
dictates that any CRITICAL VALUE has had sufficient scrutiny
to eliminate such possible causes as instrument / laboratory error.
THE
IMPORTANCE OF "CRITICAL VALUES" IN THE CONTEXT OF PATIENT
MANAGEMENT CANNOT BE OVERSTATED. THIS LIST COVERS THOSE TESTS MOST FREQUENTLY
ENCOUNTERED.
|
BIOCHEMISTRY
|
|
Albumin
|
<
15g/L
|
|
|
Amylase
|
|
>
500 u/L
|
|
Bicarbonate
|
<
15
|
>
45 mmol/L
|
|
Calcium
|
<
1.8
|
>
3.0 mmol/L
|
|
Creatinine
*
|
|
>
0.50 mmol/L
|
|
Digoxin
|
|
>
2.6 mmol/L
|
|
Glucose
|
<
2.5
|
>
25.0 mmol/L
|
|
Lithium
|
|
>
1.5 mmol/L
|
|
Magnesium
|
<
0.5
|
>
2.50 mmol/L
|
|
Neonatal
Bilirubin
|
|
>
310 umnol/L
|
|
Paracetamol
|
|
Phone
for all levels
|
|
Phosphate
|
<
0.35
|
>
2.00 mol/L
|
|
Potassium
*
|
<
3.0
|
>
6.5 mmol/L
|
|
Salicylate
|
|
>
2.5 mmol/L
|
|
Sodium
|
<
120
|
>
160 mmol/L
|
|
Troponin
|
|
>
0.1 mmol/L
|
|
Urea
*
|
|
>
36.0 mmol/L
|
