Laboratory Medicine
Test Directory / Lithium
Lithium
Brown clotted serum or gel barrier
| Test | Lithium |
|---|---|
| Common Abbreviations | Li, LIT |
| Profile | Urea and Electrolytes co-requested in all cases |
| Tube type | Brown clotted serum or gel barrier |
| Clinical Indication | Used in the treatment of manic depressive psychosis and for prophylaxis in bipolar affective disorder. Serum measurements are made mainly to ensure compliance and avoid toxicity. |
| Specimen Type | Blood |
| Sample type | Serum or plasma |
| Minimum Volume | 0.5mL If requesting more than 10 tests please send an additional brown clotted serum sample. |
| Special Precautions | Peak levels occur 2-4 hours after an oral dose. It is recommended that a standardised 12 hour post dose serum lithium concentration should be used to assess adequate therapy. Lithium Heparin tubes MUST NOT be used |
| Stability | 1 day at 20-25C and 7 days at 2-8C or greater than a year at -20°C. |
| Turnaround Time | Inpatient: 6 hours Outpatient/ GP: 24 hours |
| Laboratory | York and Scarborough |
| Reference Interval | Therapeutic Range: 0.4 1.0mmol/L |
| Limitations | |
| Notes |
