Patient Prep: Specimens are commonly drawn approximately 12 hours after last dose of lithium taken.
Collect: Serum separator tube or green (sodium heparin).
Specimen Preparation: Allow serum to clot completely at room temperature. Separate serum from cells ASAP or within 2 hours of collection. Transfer 1 mL serum or plasma to an ARUP Standard Transport Tube. (Min: 0.2 mL)
Storage/Transport Temperature: Frozen.
Unacceptable Conditions: Specimens collected in lithium heparin or sodium fluoride/potassium oxalate. Grossly hemolyzed specimens.
Stability (collection to initiation of testing): After separation from cells: Ambient: 24 hours; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: 6 months
Reference Interval:
Therapeutic: 0.5-1.5 mmol/L Toxic: 1.6 or greater mmol/L
