Hydrocodone

Test Code

Alias/See Also

Hydrocodone and Metabolite, Serum
Vicodin

Quest Code
90489

CPT Codes
80361

Includes

Hydrocodone, Free
Hydromorphone, Free

Preferred Specimen

5 mL serum collected in two no additive (red-top) tubes, transferred to a plastic screw-cap vial

Minimum Volume

2.5 mL

Transport Temperature

Refrigerated

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 7 days
Refrigerated: 14 days
Frozen: 14 days

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Serum separator tubes (SST)

Methodology
Liquid Chromatography / Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS)

Setup Schedule

Tuesday, Saturday a.m.

Report Available

2-5 days

Clinical Significance

Therapeutic drug monitoring and confirmation of screen-positive results. Hydrocodone is an active component of Vicodin ^®, Lorcet ^®, Lortab ^®, etc. Serum half-life is 3.4 to 8.8 hours. Hydromorphone is an active ingredient in Dilaudid ^®. Serum half-life is 1.5 to 3.8 hours.

Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute
Valencia, CA

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.