Critical Values

Hematology

Test NameCritical Low ValueCritical High Value
Hematocrit< 18.0%> 61.0%
Hemoglobin< 6.8 g/dL> 19.9 g/dL
Platelet - Child/Newborn< 53 x 103 cells/uL> 916 x 103 cells/uL
Platelet - Adult< 37 x 103 cells/uL> 910 x 103 cells/uL
White Blood Count< 2.0 x 103 cells/uL> 37.0 x 103 cells/uL

Coagulation

Test NameCritical Value
INR> 5.0
aPTT> 68 seconds

Chemistry

Test NameCritical Low ValueCritical High Value
Total BilirubinCritical Value: > 15 mg/dL
Calcium< 6.6 mg/dL> 13.0 mg/dL
Glucose - Adults (FASTING ONLY)< 46 mg/dL> 484 mg/dL
Glucose - Newborn (FASTING
ONLY)
< 30 mg/dL> 300 mg/dL
Phosphorus< 1.2 mg/dL> 8.9 mg/dL
Sodium< 120 meq/L> 158 meq/L
Potassium - Adults< 2.8 meq/L> 6.2 meq/L
Potassium - Newborn< 2.5 meq/L>8.0 meq/L
Chloride< 75 mmol/L> 126 mmol/L
CO2< 11 mmol/L> 40 mmol/L
Magnesium< 1.0 mg/dL> 4.9 mg/dL
BUNCritical Value: > 104 mg/dL
Uric AcidCritical Value: > 13 mg/dL
Creatinine (serum)Critical Value: > 7.4 mg/dL
TriglycerideCritical Value: > 1000 mg/dL

Therapeutic Drugs - Antibiotics

Test NameCritical Low ValueCritical High Value
GentamicinTrough > 2.0 ug/mLPeak > 12.0 ug/m
TobramycinCritical Value: Trough > 2.0 ug/mL
VancomycinCritical Value: Trough > 30 ug/L

Therapeutic Drugs - Analgesics

Test NameCritical Value
Salicylate>/= 40 mg/dL (lethal > 60 mg/dL)
Acetaminophen>/= 200 ug/mL (drawn 4 hours after ingestion)

Therapeutic Drugs - Anti-Epileptics

Test NameCritical Value
Carbamazephine (Tegratol)> 20 ug/mL
Ethosuximide> 200 ug/mL
Phenobarbital> 60 ug/mL
Phenytoin (Dilantin)> 40 ug/mL (toxicity may occur at lower concentrations in presence of low Albumin)
Primidone> 24 ug/mL
Valproic Acid (Depakote)> 200 ug/mL

Therapeutic Drugs - Anti-Depressants

Test NameCritical Value
Lithium (Acute Therapy)> 2.0 meq/L
Imipramine> 400 ng/mL

Therapeutic Drugs - Anti-Dysrhythmics

Test NameCritical Value
Procainamide> 10 ug/mL
Quinidine> 6 ug/mL
Theophylline> 25 ug/mL
Digoxin (Lanoxin)> 2.5 ng/mL

Urinalysis

Test NameCritical Value
MicroscopicForeign cells, Tissue
Blood (males only)Gross (visually bloody)

Microbiology

Test Name
Positive Blood Cultures
Positive Blood Culture Gram Stains
MRSA Cultures - Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus
MRSE Cultures - Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis
MRSS Cultures - Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus species
VISA Cultures - Vancomycin intermediate Staphylococcus aureus
VRSA Cultures - Vancomycin resisitant Staphylococcus aureus
Oxacillin resistant Streptococcus pneumonia
Vancomycin resistant Entercoccus species
Positive biological indicator cultures
Positive Campylobacter on stool cultures
Positive E. coli 0157:H7
Positive TB Culture
Positive TB Smear
Positive cerebrospinal fluid culture and smear
Positive body cavity fluid culture
Salmonella & Shigella on stool cultures following postive confirmation from the Health Department