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Test Code LAB24 Valproic Acid, Plasma or Serum

Reporting Title

Valproic Acid

Methodology

Roche Diagnostics-RMH, GMC, DH, DMH, BH, OBH, MGH, MH

Used to monitor blood level of valproic acid, an anticonvulsant drug.

Performing Laboratory

OhioHealth Laboratory Services-RMH, GMC, DH, DMH, MGH, HMH, OBH, MH, BH Core Laboratories

Specimen Requirements

Collection Instructions:

1. Serum and Plasma gel tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.

2. Red-top tubes should be centrifuged and aliquoted within 2 hours of collection.

 

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

 

Preferred:

Serum

Draw blood in a gold-top serum gel tube(s) just prior to next oral dose. Spin down and send 1 mL of serum refrigerated.
Note:

1. Date and time of draw is required on request form and specimen for processing.

2. A speckled-top serum gel tube (s) or a plain, red-top tube(s) is also acceptable.

3. Indicate serum on request form.

4. Label specimen appropriately (serum).

 

Alternate: Preferred for Siemens Users

Plasma

Draw blood in a mint green-top (heparin) gel tube(s) just prior to next oral dose. Spin down and send 1 mL of heparinized plasma refrigerated.

Note:  1. Date and time of draw is required on request form and specimen for processing.

2. Indicate plasma on request form.

3. Label specimen appropriately (plasma).

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Serum or plasma Refrigerated 7 days capped
  Ambient  2 days capped
  Frozen  3 months capped

 

Specimen Transport Temperature

Refrigerate/Ambient OK/Frozen OK

Reference Values

Therapeutic concentration:  50-100 mcg/mL

Critical value >130 mcg/mL

Alerting category: Always called within 1 hour

Note:  Blood levels may be increased with liver disease due to prolonged half-life, and decreased in children due to faster clearance.

Day(s) Test Set Up

Monday through Sunday; Continuously

Test Classification and CPT Coding

80164