Lactate, Blood (Arterial)

Tube Type

Test ID		LAB729
EPIC Order		LACTATE, ARTERIAL, WHOLE BLOOD
CPT Code(s)		83605
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. See Comments
Availability	Routine:	24 hrs/day
	STAT:	Yes
Turnaround Time		10 minutes
Reference Range	Normal:	<1.3 mmol/L, effective 3/17/2009
	Critical:	>4.0 mmol/L
Comments	*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. Patients should not exercise their arm or clench their fist before or during collection. Do not separate or freeze whole blood.

Reviewed by J. Carr on January 15, 2026

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