Pediatric Age for I-Stat Critical Values

Reportable ranges - We use the same ranges as the main lab. These are based off studies done over time by the main lab and also using data from the Caliper study. For K, Na, Hgb, Hct these are all broken down by age and/or gender. 

Critical ranges - critical ranges are ultimately a lab/provider/hospital policy decision. We do not at this time have any critical value ranges broken down by age. That being said, we are a pediatric facility so while we do see patients older than 17, the vast majority are younger than that. 

I worked for a large Pediatric organization in Raleigh, NC for 20 years.  All of the providers used the RedBook for pediatric ranges, regardless of the laboratory the patient results were coming from.   There can be quite a difference in the reportable ranges/critical values due to a pediatric patients age.  The RedBook breaks it down according to that, instead of using a wide based range.  The ranges are approved by the American Acadamy of Pediatrics, so there should not be any backlash for using them.  All of our in-house tests were programmed with these ranges, and we never had an issue during inspections.  If nothing else, I would ask your pediatricians what ranges they use when evaluating patient results and decide from there.  Hope this helps.