Alert

Effective Jan. 5, 2026: Temporary Age-Based Visitor Restrictions at UNC Health for all inpatient and waiting areas throughout its inpatient hospitals.

Read More

Hemoglobin, Blood (Blood Gas)

Tube Type = Syringe with Lyophilized Heparin

Tube Type

Test ID LAB754
EPIC Order HEMOGLOBIN, BLOOD GASES
CPT Code(s) 85018
Group/Individual Test Individual
Laboratory Core Laboratory-Blood Gas
Tube Station 31
Specimen Routine: 1 mL whole blood in 3cc syringe w/ lyophilized heparin in BG Kit, SafePICO Collection Kit, or Green Heparin – NO GEL. See Comments.
Micro: 0.5 mL whole blood in 1cc syringe w/ lyophilized heparin in BG Kit or full heparinized capillary tube. See Comments.
Stability  

Room Temp/Refrigerated: 30 minutes

Frozen: NO
Availability Routine: 24 hr/day
STAT: Yes
Turnaround Time 10 minutes
Reference Range Normal Male: 13.5 - 17.5 g/dL
 Normal Female: 12.0 - 16.0 g/dL
Normal Unspecified gender 13.5-16.0 g/dL
Critical Value: <5.0 g/dL or >20 g/dL
Comment
  • Green Sodium Heparin tubes are NOT acceptable and will be rejected.
  • Deliver Immediately to Blood Gas lab. The time between specimen collection and analysis should not exceed 30 minutes.
  • Syringes with needles attached will NOT be accepted.
  • Blood Gas syringes may be obtained from Central Distribution.
  • Heparinized capillary samples can be analyzed if at least 200 µL of clot-free blood is present.

Reviewed by J. Carr on January 15, 2026

UNC Hospitals
McLendon Clinical Laboratories
101 Manning Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27514