Valproic Acid, Free, Serum or Plasma

TEST: 070789
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CPT: 80165
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Synonyms

  • Depacon®
  • Depakene®
  • Depakote®
  • Free Valproic Acid
  • Stavzor™
  • Valproate

Expected Turnaround Time

2 - 4 days

Turnaround time is defined as the usual number of days from the date of pickup of a specimen for testing to when the result is released to the ordering provider. In some cases, additional time should be allowed for additional confirmatory or additional reflex tests. Testing schedules may vary.

Specimen Requirements

Specimen

Serum or plasma

Volume

3 mL

Minimum Volume

1.1 mL

Container

Red-top tube or lavender-top (EDTA) tube. Do not use a gel-barrier tube. The use of gel-barrier tubes is not recommended due to slow absorption of the drug by the gel. Depending on the specimen volume and storage time, the decrease in drug level due to absorption may be clinically significant.

Collection

Transfer separated serum or plasma to a plastic transport tube.

Storage Instructions

Room temperature

Stability Requirements

Temperature

Period

Room temperature

14 days

Refrigerated

14 days

Frozen

14 days

Freeze/thaw cycles

Stable x3

Causes for Rejection

Gel-barrier tube; hemolysis; serum or plasma not removed from cells

Test Details

Use

Since valproic acid is highly bound, drugs that compete for protein binding sites can increase the amount of free valproic acid (biologically active protein); these include dicumarol, high dose salicylates, and phenylbutazone. If toxicity is suspected, a free valproic acid level should be obtained.

Methodology

Ultrafiltrate assayed by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS)

Reference Interval

Therapeutic: 6.0-22.0 μg/mL

References

Jacobson SA. Laboratory Medicine in Psychiatry and Behavioral Science. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2012:368.

LOINC® Map

Order Code Order Code Name Order Loinc Result Code Result Code Name UofM Result LOINC
070789 Free Valproic Acid (Depakote) 4087-3 070790 Free Valproic Acid (Depakote) ug/mL 4087-3

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