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Synonym(s):
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Total cholesterol
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Requisition Form
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G-1B, G-THSTEPS
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Test Description
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The quantitation of cholesterol
in human serum is used to determine the risk of coronary heart disease.
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Pre-Approval Needed
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N/A
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Supplemental Information Required
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N/A
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Supplemental Form(s)
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N/A
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Performed on Specimens from (sources)
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Human
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Sample/Specimen Type for Testing
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• Preferred: Serum from a
red top tube transferred to a transport tube • Acceptable: Serum from a centrifuged gold top serum
separator tube.
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Minimum Volume/Size Required
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1mL serum
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Storage/Preservation Prior to Shipping
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• Collect blood in red top or gold top tube. • Gently invert the tube with the blood specimen five times immediately after collection. • Allow to clot 30 minutes from collection.
• Centrifuge gold top tube to separate serum from red blood cells.
• For red top tube: Immediately transfer serum into a transport tube.
• For gold top tube: Immediately transfer serum into a transport tube if serum will be frozen.*
• Store serum cold if testing will occur within 7 days of collection.
• Store serum frozen if testing will occur after 7 days of collection. NOTE: * Gold top serum separator tube cannot be frozen. Serum must be transferred to a transport tube prior to freezing.
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Transport Medium
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N/A
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Specimen Labeling
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• Two patient-specific
identifiers required (e.g., patient full name, date of birth, Medical record number). • Identifiers on specimen must exactly match submission form. |
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Shipping and Specimen Handling Requirements
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• Ship all specimens overnight with enough cold packs or dry ice to maintain specimens at proper temperature until arrival at DSHS Laboratory.
• Ship according to Dangerous Good Regulations, IATA, and/or CFR 49.
• Handle as infectious agent using universal precautions.
• Ship triple-contained in accordance with federal shipping regulations for infectious agents.
• Ship Monday-Thursday; avoid Friday and weekend deliveries
• Ship cold specimens overnight on ice packs if arriving at laboratory within 7 days from collection.
• Ship frozen specimens overnight on dry ice or on ice packs.
• Specimens must be received cold/frozen by the laboratory.
• Consider freezing serum transport tubes prior to shipping during high temperature months.
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Method
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Quantitative enzymatic
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Turn-around Time
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4-5 working days after receipt
of specimen
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Interferences/Limitations
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Lipemia, turbidity,
icterus, hemolysis, metamizole, N-acetyl cysteine.
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| Common Causes for Rejection
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• Two patient-specific identifiers not met
• Specimen received at ambient temperature due to inadequate/no ice packs.
• Specimen unsuitable for testing
• Specimen was received at improper temperature
• No specimen included with submission form.
• Submission form not included with specimen.
• Specimen tube broken/leaked in transit.
• Demographic information is missing or incorrect.
• Specimen identification is missing or incorrect.
• Whole blood was received.
• Specimen is collected in an expired blood collection tube.
• No test specified.
• Red top tubes have not had serum poured over to a transport tube.
• Frozen gold top tubes.
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Additional Information |
Reference Range: • Children/adolescents
(<20 years): <170 mg/dL • Young adults (20-24
years): <190 mg/dL • Adults: <200 mg/dL
Contact: • Telephone: 512-776-6236 or 512-776-2628 • Fax: 512-776-7221 • Email: ClinicalChemistry@dshs.texas.gov
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