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Test ID: SALCA Salicylate, Serum

Useful For

Quantitative determination of toxic levels of salicylate

 

This test is not useful for assessing low-dose aspirin therapy.

Method Name

Photometric

Reporting Name

Salicylate, S

Specimen Type

Serum


Specimen Required


Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Serum gel tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.

2. Red-top tubes should be centrifuged, and the serum aliquoted into a plastic vial within 2 hours of collection.


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.25 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days
  Frozen  28 days
  Ambient  72 hours

Clinical Information

Therapeutic salicylates include, among others, salicylic acid, sodium salicylate, methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen), and acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin).

 

Aspirin is an analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory drug contained in a large number of preparations. Aspirin is rapidly hydrolyzed by hepatic and blood esterases to the pharmacologically active intermediate, salicylic acid, which has a dose-dependent serum half-life ranging from 3 to 20 hours.

 

Stimulation of the respiratory center in the central nervous system and uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation are direct effects of salicylate that lead to many of the toxic symptoms observed in overdose situations.

 

Symptoms of salicylate toxicity can include nausea, vomiting, tinnitus, headache, hyperpnea, confusion, hyperthermia, slurred speech, and convulsions. Acid-base disturbances such as compensated respiratory alkalosis (mild toxicity) and metabolic acidosis with increased anion gap (severe toxicity) are commonplace.

Reference Values

Therapeutic: <30.0 mg/dL

Critical value: ≥50.0 mg/dL

Interpretation

Therapeutic concentrations for antipyretic/analgesic are 3.0 to 10.0 mg/dL, while concentrations between 1.5 and 30 mg/dL are for anti-inflammatory effect and treatment of rheumatic fever.

 

Toxic concentrations are 50.0 mg/dL or higher.

Clinical Reference

1. Flower RJ, Moncada S, Vane JR. Analgesic-antipyretics and anti-inflammatory agents: drugs employed in the treatment of gout. In The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 1980:688-698

2. Adeli K, Higgins V, Bohn MK. Reference Information for the Clinical Laboratory. In: Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, Burnham CD, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2023:1390-1470

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Sunday

Report Available

Same day/1 day

CPT Code Information

80179

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
SALCA Salicylate, S 4024-6

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
SALCA Salicylate, S 4024-6

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.
Mayo Clinic Laboratories | Therapeutics Catalog Additional Information:

mml-emergencyoverdose

mml-toxicology