Carbamazepine, Total

Test Code

18949

CPT Codes
80156

Preferred Specimen

2 mL serum collected in a red-top tube (no gel)

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Other Acceptable Specimens

Plasma collected in an EDTA (lavender-top) tube

Transport Container

Plastic screw-cap vial

Transport Temperature

Room temperature

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 14 days
Refrigerated: 14 days
Frozen: 10 months

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

Serum separator tube (SST) • Sodium heparin (green-top) tube

Methodology
Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

FDA Status
This test was developed and its analytical performance characteristics have been determined by Quest Diagnostics. It has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This assay has been validated pursuant to the CLIA regulations and is used for clinical purposes.

Setup Schedule

Set up: Mon-Sat; Report available: 2 days

Reference Range

4.0-12.0 mcg/mL

Clinical Significance

Carbamazepine and its metabolite, (10,11- Carbamazepine epoxide), are widely used for control of generalized tonic-clonic, partial-onset, complex and mixed seizure disorders. The metabolism of carbamazepine in epileptic patients has several different pathways that can be altered when the patient is co-medicated with other anticonvulsants and, therefore, its therapeutic level should be monitored along with its metabolite in their free and protein bound states.

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.