| A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # |
Valproic Acid, Total and Free
Test CodeVPAQ
Alias/See Also
LAB172
CPT Codes
<p>80164, 80165</p>
Preferred Specimen
Patient Preparation: Collect as a trough just before next dose. Optimum time to collect sample: 1 hour before next dose.
Specimen Type: Serum red
Collection Container/Type: Red top
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial
Specimen Volume: 3 mL
Collection Instructions:
- Do not use gel barrier tubes.
- Centrifuge and immediately separate serum or plasma specimens from the cells into clean, plastic, screw-cap vial(s).
- Do not use serum separator tubes. Submission of a serum separator tube will result in cancellation.
Specimen Type: Plasma
Collection Container/Type: Lavender top (EDTA)
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial
Specimen Volume: 3 mL
Collection Instructions:
- Do not use gel barrier tubes.
- Centrifuge and immediately separate serum or plasma specimens from the cells into clean, plastic, screw-cap vial(s).
- Do not use serum separator tubes. Submission of a serum separator tube will result in cancellation.
Patient Preparation
Collect as a trough just before next dose.
Optimum time to collect sample: 1 hour before next dose.
Minimum Volume
1.5 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
Plasma collected in: EDTA (lavender-top) tube
Instructions
Do not use gel barrier tubes. Centrifuge and immediately separate serum or plasma specimens from the cells into clean, plastic, screw-cap vial(s).
Do not use serum separator tubes. Submission of a serum separator tube will result in cancellation.
Do not use serum separator tubes. Submission of a serum separator tube will result in cancellation.
Transport Container
Plastic screw-cap vial(s)
Transport Temperature
Refrigerated (cold packs)
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 48 hours
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 30 days
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Serum Separator Tubes (SST)
Methodology
Immunoassay (IA)
Setup Schedule
Set up: Mon-Sat; Report available: Next day
Report Available
Next day
Reference Range
See Laboratory Report
Clinical Significance
Valproic acid is used as an anticonvulsant to treat certain types of seizures, to prevent migraine headaches, and to treat various psychiatric illnesses such as bipolar disorder and aggression. Drugs that compete for protein-binding sites with Valproic Acid, can increase the concentration of Valproic Acid. Therapeutic drug monitoring is useful to optimize dose. Measurement of the free concentration is useful if toxicity is suspected.
Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute 14225 Newbrook Drive Chantilly, VA 20153
Last Updated: February 17, 2023