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Lithium

Tube Type = Blue Top or Red Bullet

Tube Type

Test ID   LAB29
EPIC Order
   LITHIUM LEVEL
CPT Code(s)   80178
Group/Individual Test   Individual
Laboratory   Core Laboratory
Tube Station   Routine 30; STAT 888
Specimen Routine: 1 mL blood/navy blue plain tube/red plain tube also acceptable; See Comments
  Micro: 200 µL blood/red plain bullet only (no gel)
Stability
Unspun: 24 hours
Spun/Separated, Room temperature: 24 hours
Spun/Separated, Refrigerator: 7 days
Spun/Separated, Frozen: 6 months
Availability Routine: 24 Hours/Day
  STAT: YES 
Turnaround Time   STAT 1hr; Routine 2 hrs
Reference Range Therapeutic: 0.5-1.2 mmol/L
  Critical: >1.5 mmol/L
Comments
  • Samples for lithium therapeutic monitoring should be collected at least 12 hours after dosing. 
  • Concentrations at 24 hours are good indicators of maintenance doses.

Reviewed by J. Carr on January 09, 2026

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