Category
SPECIAL CHEMISTRY.
Sub Category
DRUGS/ TDM/ TOXICOLOGY
Synonyms/Aliases
TEGRETOL
Abbreviations
N/A
Type
INDIVIDUAL TEST
Results
RESULTS READY/ REPORTED IN 5 WORKING DAYS
Method
IMMUNOASSAY
Temp
REFRIGERATED
Setup
BATCHED
Components Parameters
NOT APPLICABLE
PRE-ANALYTIC CONSIDERATIONS
Test Ordering Instructions
FILL OUT TEST REQUEST FORM FULLY & LEGIBLY. DETAILED SPECIFIC HISTORY IS REQUIRED E.G. EXACT INDICATION FOR DRUG MONITORING, DRUG HISTORY (I.E. DOSE, ROUTE OF ADMINISTRATION, DURATION SINCE TREATMENT WAS STARTED OR DOSE ADJUSTED, CONCURRENT MEDICATION), HEIGHT, WEIGHT.
Patient preparation
SPECIFIC TIMING APPLIES I.E. COLLECT TROUGH (PRE-DOSE) SAMPLE.
Sample type
SERUM
Container/ preservative
PLAIN (RED TOP) VACUTAINER. SERUM SEPARATOR TUBES (SST/ GEL) ARE UNACCEPTABLE.
Sample volume
AT LEAST 2ML
Rejection criteria
LABELING ISSUE (UNLABELED/ MISLABELED); MISSING REQUEST FORM; MISMATCH BETWEEN REQUEST FORM & SAMPLE DETAILS; MISSING AGE/ GENDER; WRONG SAMPLE TYPE (INCLUDING SST/ GEL TUBES); INSUFFICIENT SAMPLE; MISSING HISTORY AS EXPOUNDED UNDER TEST ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS..
Other Instructions
CENTRIFUGE SST (SERUM GEL TUBES) WITHIN 1-2 HOURS OF COLLECTION. CENTRIFUGE RED TOP VACUTAINERS AND ALIQUOT SERUM WITHIN 1-2 HOURS OF COLLECTION. THE SEPARATION VIAL MUST BE LABELED WITH AT LEAST 2 PATIENT IDENTIFIERS AND THE SAMPLE TYPE.
Reference intervals
INTERPRETIVE DATA IS PROVIDED ON THE REPORT.
Clinical Utility
OPTIMIZE DRUG DOSAGE (TO AVOID SUBTHERAPEUTIC & TOXIC DOSES I.E. ENSURE TARGET THERAPEUTIC RANGE IS ACHIEVED); TO VERIFY COMPLIANCE. CARBAMAZEPINE IS AN ANTI-EPILEPTIC (ANTI-CONVULSANT) DRUG.
Test Limitations/ Confounders
LEVELS ARE INFLUENCED BY DOSAGE REGIMEN, DRUG INTERACTIONS, INDIVIDUAL'S METABOLIZING CAPACITY, LIVER DYSFUNCTION. SST/ GEL TUBES CAN ADSORB THE DRUG LEADING TO FALSELY LOWERED DRUG LEVELS & SHOULD BE AVOIDED.