If the lab person calling panic values cannot reach anyone or if the lab feels the person reached does not understand the significance of panic data, the clinical pathology resident will be contacted. It will then be the resident's responsibility to pursue the doctor and
discuss the results.
| Test/Analyte |
Value |
|---|
Blood Bank YNHH
| Urgent need for transfusion and compatible blood |
Blood not available in an appropriate time |
| Life Threatening Transfusion Reactions |
Labeling errors, hematuria, or positive gram stain |
| Stem cells |
Positive culture |
Chemistry YNHH
| Calcium |
<= 6.5 mg/dL
>= 13.0 mg/dL (first time only) |
| Cortisol |
<= 3 ug/dL |
| CO2, Total |
<= 12 mmol/L
>= 45 mmol/L |
| Sodium |
<= 120 mmol/L
>= 160 mmol/L |
| Potassium |
<= 2.8 mmol/L
>= 6.0 mmol/L |
| Glucose |
<= 50 mg/dL
>= 450 mg/dL |
| Magnesium |
<= 1.0 mg/dL
>= 5.0 mg/dL |
| Phosphate |
<= 1.2 mg/dL |
| Ionized Calcium |
<= 3.0 mg/dL
>= 6.5 mg/dL (first time only) |
Hematology YNHH
| White blood cells (WBC) |
< 1.5 K/ul or >50.0 K/ul |
| Hematocrit (HCT) |
<22.0%
>60.0% (except in newborns, which could be slightly higher) |
| Platelets (PLT) |
<50.0 K/ul or >1000.0 K/ul |
| Granulocytes |
<500 (or 10% if WBC normal) |
| International normalized PT ratio (INR) |
>4.0 |
| Partial thromboplastin time (PTT) |
>60.0 seconds |
| PTT on heparin |
>100 seconds |
| BACTERIA |
Present in any sterile fluid |
| MALIGNANT CELLS |
Present in any sterile fluid |
| URINE |
Ketonuria and Glycosuria (3+/4+) |
Microbiology YNHH
| Blood Cultures |
Positive Gram Stain |
| Priority Specimens |
Positive Gram Stain or Culture Result |
| Rapid Tests (Strep Gp A, Strep Gp B) |
Positive Result |
| Group A Strep in Pediatric Patients |
Positive Growth |
| Cryptococcal Antigen/India Ink |
Positive Result |
| Hyphae in Sinus Smears |
Positive Finding |
| Shiga Toxin (children under 10 only) |
Positive Finding |
| AFB Smears |
Positive Finding |
| Growth of M. tuberculosis/MTD test |
Positive Finding |
| Suspected Agents of Bioterrorism |
Any Positive or Suspected Positive Finding |
Virology YNHH
| HSV PCR |
Positive CSF or Brain Biopsy |
| HSV (PCR, Cx or DFA) |
Positive Findings in Neonates |
Med Onc Treatment Center/Lab Med at Long Wharf
| Calcium |
<= 6.5 mg/dL
>= 13.0 mg/dL |
| Creatinine |
>= 5.0 mg/dL*(Outpatient only) |
| CO2, Total |
<= 12 mmol/L
>= 45 mmol/L |
| Sodium |
<= 120 mmol/L
>= 160 mmol/L |
| Potassium |
<= 2.8 mmol/L
>= 6.0 mmol/L |
| Glucose |
<= 50 mg/dL
>= 450 mg/dL |
| Phosphate |
<= 1.2 mg/dL |
| White blood cells (WBC) |
< 1.5 K/ul or >50.0 K/ul |
| Hematocrit (HCT) |
<22.0%
>60.0% |
| Platelets (PLT) |
<50.0 K/ul or >1000.0 K/ul |
SMC Laboratory
| Calcium |
<= 6.5 mg/dL
>= 13.0 mg/dL (first time only) |
| Creatinine* |
>= 5.0 mg/dL(Outpatient only) |
| CO2, Total |
<= 12 mmol/L
>= 45 mmol/L |
| Sodium |
<= 120 mmol/L
>= 160 mmol/L |
| Potassium |
<= 2.8 mmol/L
>= 6.0 mmol/L |
| Glucose |
<= 50 mg/dL
>= 450 mg/dL |
| Magnesium |
<= 1.0 mg/dL
>= 5.0 mg/dL |
| White blood cells (WBC) |
< 2.5 K/ul or >50.0 K/ul |
| Hematocrit (HCT) |
<22.0%
>60.0% |
| Platelets (PLT) |
<50.0 K/ul or >1000.0 K/ul |
| Granulocytes |
<500 (or 10% if WBC normal) |
| International normalized PT ratio (INR) |
>4.0 |
| Partial thromboplastin time (PTT) |
>60.0 seconds |
| BACTERIA |
Present in any sterile fluid |
| URINE |
Ketonuria and Glycosuria >= 3+ |
| pH** |
<= 7.20
>= 7.60 |
| pCO2** |
<= 20 mmHG
>= 60 mmHG |
| pO2** |
<= 50 mmHG |
* if delta is > 2.0 mg/dL higher than previous value, treat as critical
** no repeat required prior to call