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Carbamazepine(Tegretol)
Test CodeCARBA
Alias/See Also
Tegretol
CPT Codes
80156
Preferred Specimen
Serum (gold top) tube
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
Lithium Heparin Plasma (green top) tube
Transport Container
Serum (gold top) tube or Lithium Heparin Plasma (green top) tube
Transport Temperature
Room Temperature or Refrigeration
Specimen Stability
Room Temperature - 5 days; Refrigerated - 5 days
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Quantity Not Sufficient, IV contamination
Methodology
Colorimetric
Setup Schedule
Daily upon receipt
Report Available
Upon completion of analysis
Limitations
Specimens with low total protein < 4.0 g/dL may give a negative bias greater than -1.4 μg/mL. Plasma values are approximately 10% higher than serum values. Concurrent administration of Phenytoin or Phenobarbital may reduce the half-life by 9 - 10 hours. Administration of erythromycin, other macrolides, and proxpoxyphen can increase carbamazepine levels.
Reference Range
Therapeutic Range: 4.0 - 10.0 ug/mL
Clinical Significance
Carbamazepine is a commonly prescribed anti-convulsant used mainly in the treatment of seizure disorders, but is also used to treat trigeminal neuralgia. Carbamazepine has also been useful in the treatment of manic depressive patients as an alternative to lithium therapy. Carbamazepine measurements are used to monitor patient compliance and therapy, and to diagnose potential overdose.