Laboratory Critical Values

A "Critical Value" is a test result that suggests a serious medical condition that may require immediate or urgent evaluation or intervention.  Critical Values have been established for many analytes. Changes in clinical interpretation or testing protocols, like the testing methodology, may result in changes to these values. Such changes will be communicated to clinicians via newsletter. A copy of current critical values can be obtained from customer service at 508-334-2863.

"Emergency critical value" results will be communicated as soon as they are verified. "Urgent critical value" results will be communicated within eight hours after verification. Communication of other important results will occur within three days after verification.

For some tests, only the first positive or abnormal test result is communicated as a critical value for Inpatients. First [positive or abnormal] test results means that no patient specimen has yielded the critical result within a clinically relevant interval, usually the previous 48 hours.

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