Test ID: LIS
Lithium, Serum
NY State Approved 
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.
Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful
Monitoring therapy of patients with bipolar disorders, including recurrent episodes of mania and depression
Evaluating toxicity
Method Name A short description of the method used to perform the test
Spectrophotometric
Reporting Name A shorter/abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test; an abbreviated test name
Aliases Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching
Lithium (Li)
Specimen Type Describes the specimen type needed for testing
Specimen Required Defines the optimal specimen. This field describes the type of specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing. The volume allows automated processing, fastest throughput and, when indicated, repeat or reflex testing.
Container/Tube: Red top
Specimen Volume: 1 mL
Collection Instructions: Draw blood 8 to 12 hours after last dose (trough specimen).
Additional Information: Peak serum concentrations do not correlate with symptoms.
Specimen Minimum Volume Defines the amount of specimen required to perform an assay once, including instrument and container dead space. Submitting the minimum specimen volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory or perform reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum specimen volume may result in a QNS (quantity not sufficient) result, requiring a second specimen to be collected.
Reject Due To Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected
| Hemolysis | Mild OK; Gross reject |
| Lipemia | Mild OK; Gross reject |
| Icterus | Mild OK; Gross reject |
| Other | NA |
Specimen Stability Information Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the laboratory. Alternate acceptable temperature(s) are also included.
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Serum Red | Refrigerated (preferred) | 7 days |
| Frozen | 14 days |
Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test
Lithium alters the intraneuronal metabolism of catecholamines by an unknown mechanism. It is used to suppress the manic phase of manic-depressive psychosis.
Lithium is distributed throughout the total water spaces of the body and is excreted primarily by the kidney.
Toxicity from lithium salts leads to ataxia, slurred speech, and confusion. Since the concentration of lithium in the serum varies with the time after the dose, blood for lithium determination should be drawn at a standard time, preferably 8 to 12 hours after the last dose (trough values).
Reference Values Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.
Therapeutic concentration: 0.8-1.2 mmol/L (trough concentration)
Toxic concentration: >1.6 mmol/L
There is no relationship between peak concentration and degree of intoxication.
Interpretation Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results
Therapeutic concentration: 0.8 to 1.2 mmol/L (trough concentration)
Toxic concentration: >1.6 mmol/L
There is no relationship between peak concentration and degree of intoxication.
Cautions Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances
No significant cautionary statements
Clinical Reference Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature
1. Judd LL: The therapeutic use of psychotropic medications: lithium and other mood-normalizing medications. In Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. Twelfth edition. Edited by JD Wilson, E Braunwald, KJ Isselbacher, et al. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1991, pp 2141-2143
2. Gelenberg AJ, Kane JM, Kekller MB, et al: Comparison of standard and low serum levels of lithium for maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. N Engl J Med 1989;321:1489-93
3. Lithium Product Monograph, Physicians’ Desk Reference (PDR). Sixty-first edition. Montvale, NJ: Thomson PDR, 2007
Method Description Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference
The lithium assay is a spectrophotometric method. Lithium present in the sample reacts with a substituted porphyrin compound at an alkaline pH, resulting in a change in absorbance that is directly proportional to the concentration of lithium in the sample.(CA Lepp, J Gowen: Application of a new colorimetric lithium reagent on Olympus AU System chemistry-immuno analyzers. Olympus America Inc. Irving, TX)
Day(s) and Time(s) Test Performed Outlines the days and times the test is performed. This field reflects the day and time the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time required before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means assays are performed several times during the day.
Monday through Sunday; Varies
Analytic Time Defines the amount of time it takes the laboratory to setup and perform the test. This is defined in number of days. The shortest interval of time expressed is "same day/1 day," which means the results may be available the same day that the sample is received in the testing laboratory. One day means results are available 1 day after the sample is received in the laboratory.
Maximum Laboratory Time Defines the maximum time from specimen receipt at Mayo Medical Laboratories until the release of the test result
Specimen Retention Time Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded
Performing Laboratory Location The location of the laboratory that performs the test
Test Classification Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer's instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR), Investigation Use Only (IUO) product, or a Research Use Only (RUO) product.
CPT Code Information Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Medical Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.
80178
LOINC® Code Information Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the result codes returned for this test or profile.
| Result ID | Reporting Name | LOINC Code |
|---|---|---|
| 8384 | Lithium, S | 14334-7 |
External
link
PDF
document
Excel
document
Word
document