pH, Fluid

Specimen Type

Test ID		LAB5222
EPIC Order		PH, BODY FLUID
CPT Code(s)		83986
Group/Individual Test		Group
Laboratory		Core Laboratory-Blood Gas
Tube Station		31
Specimen	Routine:	1.0 mL fluid in sterile screw cap container without additives or heparinized syringe. PLEASE SPECIFY Fluid Type. See Comments
	Micro:	0.3 mL fluid in sterile screw cap container without additives or heparinized syringe. PLEASE SPECIFY Fluid Type. See Comments
Stability		Room Temp: 30 minutes Refrigerated: if unable to send within 30 minutes of collection Frozen: NO
Availability	Routine:	24 hrs/day
	STAT:	Yes
Turnaround Time		20 minutes
Reference Range	Normal:	Undefined. The test result must be integrated into the clinical context for interpretation.
Comments	Deliver Immediately to Blood Gas lab. If transport will be >30 minutes, place specimen on ice or refrigerate. Syringes with needles attached will NOT be accepted. Only biological fluids are acceptable for analysis. Non-biological fluids, and fluids of gastric origin (ie gastric fluid, stool, emesis) are unacceptable and will be rejected. Gastric fluid for pH should be ordered as a Gastroccult (LAB696).

Reviewed by J. Carr on January 15, 2026

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