panic value

panic value

Alert value, critical value Lab medicine Lab results from a specimen that must be reported immediately to a clinician–ie, of such severity as to mandate urgent therapy. See Decision levels.

Panic values

Chemistry panic values

Analyte SI units US units

Calcium < 1.65 mmol/L  <  6.6 mg/dl

    > 2.22 mmol/L    > 12.9 mg/dl

Glucose  < 2.60 mmol/L  < 46 mg/dl

       > 26.9 mmol/L    > 484 mg/dl

K⁺  <  2.8 mmol/L  <  2.8 mEq/L

     >  6.2 mmol/L  >  6.2 mEq/L

    >  8.0 mmol/L if hemolyzed

Na⁺    < 120 mmol/L   < 120 mEq/L

       > 158 mmol/L   > 158 mEq/L

CO₂ in plasma <  11 mmol/L  <  11 mMol

   >  40 mmol/L  >  40 mMol

Hematology, eg blasts or sickle cells on a peripheral smear, possibly indicating leukemia or sickle cell anemia

Microbiology, eg positive gram stain or culture from blood, serosal fluids or CSF, acid-fast stain or positive mycobacterial culture results

Transfusion medicine Incompatible cross-match and positive serology for VDRL; the panic values differ in each lab and the route of the communication is at the discretion
of the lab director

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

panic value

A laboratory test result so far outside the normal range that it requires immediate notification of a health care provider.

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