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. • Allow to clot completely at room temperature. • Centrifuge to separate serum from cells within 2 hours of collection. • Transfer serum to the transport tube. • 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: Serum collected in a gold top and not transferred to a transport tube cannot be frozen |
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. |
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 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.
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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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