Laboratory Medicine

Test Catalogue

Carboxyhemoglobin (COHb)
Test Name Carboxyhemoglobin (COHb)
Specimen Type / Requirements Container Type = 1 Green Tube Minimum Testing Volume = 2mL Blood Tube must fill to at least ½ or greater of its vacuum capacity Acceptable: carboxyhemoglobin samples collected in EDTA (purple top) or sodium fluoride (grey top) vacutainers. Stored 2 – 8°C for up to two years.
Specimen Handling Collection Instructions: Whole blood samples collected in heparinized tube, syringes or capillary tubes. Samples may be arterial, venous or capillary. Write your initials, date and time of collection on the collection label or requisition. • Plastic Syringe Samples on ice should be analyzed as soon as possible preferably within 30 mins of collection. • Capillary Samples on ice should be analyzed as soon as possible or within 5 minutes if received at room temperature. • Specimen in heparinized green top vacutainer analyzed within 30 minutes. Laboratory Staff Instructions: Do not spin. Specimens should be delivered to the gas bench as soon as posible. Rejection Criteria: Gross hemolysis, unlabeled or samples of non specific quantity. Stability: Heparinized tube are stable at 2 – 8°C for 1 week. Transportation: Send sample on ice to core lab as soon as possible.
Required Documentation
Turnaround Time (TAT) 30 Mins	Test Utilization
Reference Value Non-smoker < 0.02 Smoker < 0.09
Test Code COHB	Methodology CO-Oximetry (Spectrometer/Absorption spectra)
Testing Location SMH-Biochemistry	Other Information Last Updated: Oct 29, 2021

Carboxyhemoglobin (COHb)

Test Name

Carboxyhemoglobin (COHb)

Specimen Type / Requirements

Container Type = 1 Green Tube

Minimum Testing Volume = 2mL Blood

Tube must fill to at least ½ or greater of its vacuum capacity

Acceptable: carboxyhemoglobin samples collected in EDTA (purple top) or sodium fluoride (grey top) vacutainers. Stored 2 – 8°C for up to two years.

Specimen Handling

Collection Instructions: Whole blood samples collected in heparinized tube, syringes or capillary tubes. Samples may be arterial, venous or capillary. Write your initials, date and time of collection on the collection label or requisition.

• Plastic Syringe Samples on ice should be analyzed as soon as possible preferably within 30 mins of collection.

• Capillary Samples on ice should be analyzed as soon as possible or within 5 minutes if received at room temperature.

• Specimen in heparinized green top vacutainer analyzed within 30 minutes.

Laboratory Staff Instructions: Do not spin. Specimens should be delivered to the gas bench as soon as posible.

Rejection Criteria: Gross hemolysis, unlabeled or samples of non specific quantity.

Stability: Heparinized tube are stable at 2 – 8°C for 1 week.

Transportation: Send sample on ice to core lab as soon as possible.

Required Documentation

Turnaround Time (TAT)

30 Mins

Test Utilization

Reference Value

Non-smoker < 0.02

Smoker < 0.09

Test Code

COHB

Methodology

CO-Oximetry (Spectrometer/Absorption spectra)

Testing Location

SMH-Biochemistry

Other Information

Last Updated: Oct 29, 2021