Laboratory Medicine

Test Directory / Sodium

Sodium

Brown clotted serum, gel barrier or lithium heparin

Test	Sodium
Common Abbreviations	SOD, Na2+
Profile	Urea and Electrolytes
Tube type	Brown clotted serum, gel barrier or lithium heparin
Clinical Indication	Measurement is used to identify hypo or hypernatraemia. It may be measured in patients with fluid abnormalities (e.g. dehydration and oedema) or in patients with a variety of different symptoms. Monitoring of sodium levels may also be indicated in patients taking certain medications (e.g. ACE inhibitors).
Specimen Type	Blood
Sample type	Serum or plasma
Minimum Volume	0.5mL If requesting more than 10 tests please send an additional brown clotted serum sample.
Special Precautions	No special requirements
Stability	2 weeks at 2-25°C
Turnaround Time	Urgent: 2 hours Inpatient: 4 hours Outpatient/ GP: 24 hours
Laboratory	York and Scarborough
Reference Interval	133-146 mmol/L (Recommended by Pathology Harmonisation Reference Group)
Limitations	Haemolysed samples are not suitable for analysis.
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