Salicylate, Serum

Tube Type

Test ID		LAB34
EPIC Order		SALICYLATE LEVEL
CPT Code(s)		80179
Group/Individual Test		Individual
Laboratory		Core Laboratory
Tube Station		STAT: 888; Routine: 30
Specimen	Routine:	3 mL blood/navy blue plain tube/red plain tube also acceptable; See Comments
	Micro:	300 µL blood/red top bullet; See Comments
Stability		Unspun: 4 hours Spun/separated, Room Temperature: 7 days Spun/separated, Refrigerator: 14 days Spun/separated, Frozen: 6 months
Availability		24 hrs/day
Turnaround Time		STAT: 1 hour; Routine: 2 hours
Reference Range	Therapeutic:	0.0-30.0 mg/dL (2-10 mg/dL antipyretic/analgesic; 10-30 mg/dL anti-inflammatory
	Toxic:	Critical Value >35.0 mg/dL, related to time of ingestion
Comments		Red top tubes must NOT contain Serum Separator Gel If extended-release tablets have been used, two levels should be used for patient assessment; the second level, collected 2-6 hours after the first, should not increase.

Reviewed by J. Carr on January 09, 2026

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