Salicylate Level

Aspirin is the most common type of salicylate. It is used to treat pain, fever, and inflammation. Popular brand name aspirins include Bayer and Ecotrin. Some other medicines may also contain aspirin, including some antacids, pain relievers, and cough and cold medicines.

Aspirin and other salicylates affect blood clotting. A blood clot is a mass of blood that forms when platelets, proteins, and cells in the blood stick together. Blood clotting is an important process that prevents you from losing too much blood when you get injured. But too much blood clotting can cause a heart attack or stroke. People at risk for blood clots may be advised to take baby aspirin or other low-dose aspirin every day to help prevent dangerous blood clots.

Even though it's called baby aspirin, it should not be given to children or teens unless your health care provider tells you to. For these age groups, taking aspirin when they have a viral infection can cause a life-threatening disorder called Reye syndrome.

If your results show a high level of salicylates, you may need immediate treatment. If levels get too high, it can be fatal. The treatment will depend on the amount of overdose.

Therapeutic levels are roughly 3-10 mg/dL when the drug is being used for pain or fever, and up to about 30 mg/dL when higher doses are used to treat conditions such as rheumatic fever or severe inflammation. Levels at or above 50 mg/dL are considered toxic and usually call for urgent treatment.

People with salicylate poisoning can have nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, fast or deep breathing, confusion, fever, or seizures. Blood tests may also show acid-base changes, such as a respiratory alkalosis or a metabolic acidosis with an increased anion gap.

Because levels can keep rising after an overdose, providers often repeat the test over time rather than relying on a single value.

If you have questions about your results, talk to your provider. To understand the results of a salicylate test, your provider may consider your symptoms, medical history, and the results of other blood tests.