University of California, Davis

Health System, Sacramento

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

REPORTING CRITICAL VALUES Administrative Procedure 110.A

Attachment 1

CRITICAL VALUE TEST LIST

UCDHS DEPT OF PATHOLOGY & LABORATORY MEDICINE
AND BLOOD GAS LAB (PATIENT CARE SERVICES)

BLOOD GAS
TEST CRITICAL VALUE
Calcium, Ionized ≤ 0.78 mmol/L
≥ 1.57 mmol/L
pO2 (Arterial blood only) ≤ 40 mm Hg
pCO2 ≤ 20 mm Hg
≥ 70 mm Hg
pH ≤ 7.2
≥ 7.6

MICROBIOLOGY
Positive Blood Culture
Positive CSF Gram Stain, CSF Cultures, or CSF Cryptococcal Antigens
Positive Gram Stain or Culture from Intraocular Source (vitreous humor, aqueous humor)

HEMATOLOGY - HEMOSTASIS (COAG)

TEST CRITICAL VALUE
Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) > 150 seconds

Blood Hemoglobin (Hgb) < 5 g/dL

Blood Hemoglobin (Hgb) (newborns) < 8 g/dL
Blood Platelets (Adults) < 30,000/cu mm
Blood Platelets (newborns & pediatrics) < 20,000/cu mm
Blood White Blood Cell (WBC) > 150,000/mL
Fibrinogen < 50 mg
Packed Cell Volume (adults) < 15 Vol %
Packed Cell Volume (newborns) < 25 Vol %
Presence of Blast Cells (previously undiagnosed leukemia)
Presence of Tumor or Blast Cells in Body Fluid
Prothrombin Time INR > 5.0

Therapeutic Heparin Activity (Anti-Xa units) ≥ 2.0 U/mL

Page 1 of 3
Adopted: 11/88, Revised: 12/13
 University of California, Davis
Health System, Sacramento
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

REPORTING CRITICAL VALUES Administrative Procedure 110.A

Attachment 1

CLINICAL CHEMISTRY - SPECIAL CHEMISTRY - TOXICOLOGY

TEST CRITICAL VALUE
Acetaminophen at 4 hrs ≥ 120 mg/L
Ammonia (<18 yrs. old) > 250 µmol/L
To be called once per 24 hrs
Bilirubin, Total (newborn) ≥ 18.0 mg/dL
Calcium ≤ 6.0 mg/dL
≥ 13.0 mg/dL
Carbamazepine ≥ 20 mg/L
Carbon Dioxide ≤ 10 mEq/L
≥ 45 mEq/L
CK-MB CK-MB ≥ 8.0 μg/L if CK ≤ 250 U/L, or
CK-MB ≥ 8.0 μg/L & RI ≥ 3.2 if CK >250 U/L.
First elevation to be called.
Another rise after 48 hrs. will be called again.
Digoxin > 2.4 ng/mL
Ethanol (< 5 yrs old) Any detectable amount
Ethanol (5-15 yrs old) > 100 mg/dl
Ethanol (> 15 yrs. old) ≥ 500 mg/dL
Ethylene Glycol ≥ 20 mg/dL
Glucose (Newborn, < 2 days old) ≤ 40 mg/dL
≥ 300 mg/dL
Glucose (Pediatric, 2 days to < 18 yrs. old) ≤ 50 mg/dL
≥ 300 mg/dL
Glucose (Adult, > 18 yrs. old) ≤ 50 mg/dL
Glucose, Urine (< 1 yr. old) Positive
Iron ≥ 350 μg/dL
≥ 500 mg/dL
Isopropanol ≥ 50 mg/dL
Ketones, Urine (< 1 yr. old) Positive
Lactic Acid ≥ 4.0 mmol/L
Lithium ≥ 2.5 mmol/L
Magnesium ≥ 8.0 mg/dL
Methanol ≥ 20 mg/dL
Phenobarbital > 40 mg/L
Phenytoin ≥ 30 mg/L
Phosphorous ≤ 1.0 mg/dL

Page 2 of 3
Adopted: 11/88, Revised: 12/13
 University of California, Davis
Health System, Sacramento
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

REPORTING CRITICAL VALUES Administrative Procedure 110.A

Attachment 1

CLINICAL CHEMISTRY - SPECIAL CHEMISTRY - TOXICOLOGY

TEST CRITICAL VALUE
Potassium ≤ 2.7 mEq/L
≥ 6.5 mEq/L
Potassium (hemolyzed) ≤ 2.7 mEq/L
≥ 8.0 mEq/L
Reducing Substances, Urine (<1 yr. old) Positive
Salicylate ≥ 50 mg/dL
Sodium ≤ 120 mEq/L
≥ 160 mEq/L
Theophylline ≥ 25 mg/L
Troponin I > 0.5 ng/mL
First elevation will be called.
Another rise after 7 days will be called again.
Troponin I ALERT VALUE > 0.1 ng/mL and < 0.5 ng/mL
First elevation only; for Emergency Dept. only.
Uric Acid (≤ 10-yrs. of age) ≥ 10 mg/dL
Valproic Acid ≥ 180 mg/L

Page 3 of 3
Adopted: 11/88, Revised: 12/13