Salicylate

Chemical Pathology

Notes

• In cases of salicylate overdose please access TOXBASE, the database of the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS), or contact the helpline for medical professionals (telephone 0844 892 0111) for advice on risk assessment and management.
• The severity of poisoning cannot be assessed from plasma salicylate concentrations alone and clinical and biochemical features should be taken into account..

Sample requirements

Please refer to TOXBASE to check latest guidance on sampling requirements.

For adults, blood taken into a 5mL gold top gel tube (or rust top for the Acute Unit)

For children, blood taken into a 3.5mL rust top gel tube

For neonates, blood taken into a 0.8mL minicollect lithium heparin tube

Storage/transport

Send at ambient temperature to the laboratory.

Required information

Relevant clinical details including time and nature of suspected overdose.

Turnaround times

The assays are run throughout the day and night.

The in-lab turnaround time is less than 24 hours.

The test can be ordered as an urgent request with results available within 1 hour..

Therapeutic ranges and interpretation of results

• Therapeutic concentrations of salicylate at high dosage are 20 - 200 mg/L (for example in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis).
• Therapeutic level for the treatment of headache is 50 mg/L.
• All patients who have taken a deliberate overdose should be referred for assessment.

Further information

To learn more about salicylate visit Lab Tests Online