Specimen Requirements
Minimum of 1.0 mL serum
Supplies for Submission
Red Top (1)
Specimen Collection
- The ideal sampling time for all antiepileptic drugs is immediately before the next oral dose (trough).
- DO NOT advise patients to delay their next scheduled dose for longer than 2-3 hours.
- On the requisition, note the collection time and when the last medication dose was ingested.
- Allow Red Top tube contents to clot in an upright position for at least 60 minutes.
- Centrifuge within 2 hours of collection.
- Label a plastic transport tube with two identifiers. Acceptable identifiers include patient’s name, date of birth, social security number, requisition number, and medical record number.
Label the tube as serum from Red Top tube.
- Transfer serum to the tube and refrigerate.
Storage Requirements
Refrigerated.
Specimens are stable if refrigerated for 2 weeks or frozen for 1 month.