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New critical value for Creatine Kinase (CK), Total starts Jan. 15

14 Jan 2024

Values >10,000 U/L now require phone call



By: Amanda Jacobson, senior laboratory specialist, chemistry, and Andrew Judd, MD, laboratory medical director

Salem Health Laboratories adopts a new critical value for Creatine Kinase (CK), Total. Starting Monday, Jan. 15, the new critical value will be >10,000 U/L. This is the value at which the lab will notify the provider with a direct phone call.

Test codes

  • LAB8045 Creatine Kinase (CK), Total
  • LAB8046 Creatine Kinase (CK), Isoenzymes

Summary of changes

Previous critical value

None

New critical value

>10,000 U/L

Criteria for a phone call:

  • Initial critical result of >10,000 U/L
  • 30+ hours have passed since the last critical result
  • CK, Total associated with a new admission
  • CK, Total result returned to ≤10,000 U/L, then increased to >10,000 U/L

What will this change mean for providers?

A phone call regarding a CK, Total result >10,000 U/L will help providers evaluate the need for treatment sooner.

Questions?

Call Amanda Jacobson, senior laboratory specialist, chemistry, at 503-561-5113 or Andrew Judd, MD, laboratory medical director, at 503-814-1632.