Lithium, Serum
Tests:Lithium, Serum
Overview | |
|---|---|
| Department | Biochemistry |
| Test Code | LI |
| Synonyms | LiCO3
Lithicarb Priadel |
| Availability | Monday - Sunday, testing routinely available out of hours |
| Turnaround Time | 1 – 5 hrs |
| Stability – Add test | 5 days |
Specimen Requirements | |
| Patient Preparation | Sample should be taken as a trough, ideally 12 hours post dose |
| Specimen | Serum |
| Preferred | Plain Yellow top or Red-Top tube |
| Acceptable | |
| Unacceptable | Li-Hep Green-top tubes |
| Specimen Transportation | |
| Paediatric Requirements | 1 mL Red-Top tube |
Aliquot Requirements | |
| Sample | Serum |
| Preferred Volume | 0.5 mL |
| Minimum Volume | >0.25 mL |
| Aliquot Transportation | |
Clinical Information | |
| Reference Intervals | Therapeutic Range 0.4 - 1.2 mmol/L
For prophylaxis, a concentration of 0.4 - 0.8 mmol/L may be optimal. A range of 0.8 - 1.2 mmol/L is suggested for acute mania. Toxicity is common above 1.2 mmol/L and may be severe. Lithium clearance is reduced with renal impairment. |
| Test Method | Abbott Alinity c series analyser using Abbott reagents.
Colorimetric assay. |
| Advanced Notice | |
Comments | |
| Please supply last dose time and date if available | |
| Owner | Clair Crossley (Crossley1) |
|---|---|
| Last reviewed | 30.01.2026 |
| Next review | 30.01.2027 (OK) |