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pH, Gastric

Gastric pH

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB5357, Beaker: PHGAS

Department

Chemistry

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: Gastric specimen in a sterile collection container.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Maintain specimen at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F) prior to transport.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Gastric specimen in a tightly-capped, sterile collection container, at room temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F) or refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Rejection Criteria

Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Test specimen immediately upon receipt in the Laboratory.

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 24 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 24 hours
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days

Laboratory

Grosse Pointe Chemistry Laboratory
Royal Oak Automated Chemistry Laboratory
Troy Chemistry Laboratory 
Wayne Chemistry Laboratory

Performed

Sunday – Saturday, 24 hours a day.
Results available within 1 hour or receipt in the Laboratory. 

Reference Range

1.50 - 3.50.

Test Methodology

Manual pH strips

Clinical Utility

Tests of gastric acidity are used to screen for the ability of the parietal cells in the stomach to produce hydrochloric acid. They are also used as an indicator of increased acid production by a patient with symptoms of peptic ulcer, to support a hypersecretory state characteristic of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, to determine the completeness of vagotomy and to aid in the differential diagnosis of gastric ulcer from duodenal ulcer. The finding of achlorhydria (anacidity, pH > 7.0) is strong evidence of pernicious anemia.

CPT Codes

83986

Contacts

Last Updated

11/2/2023