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Valproic Acid, Total and Free : 6651
Test CodeVALFRQ or 6651
Alias/See Also
Depakene
CPT Codes
80164, 80165
Instructions
Collect as a trough just before next dose. (Optimum time to collect sample: 1 hour before next dose.)
Plain red top tube or lavender (EDTA) top tube.
Plain red top tube or lavender (EDTA) top tube.
Transport Container
Centrifuge tube as soon as possible and aliquot 3 mL serum or plasma into a standard transport tube (Min: 1.5 mL).
Transport Temperature
Refrigerated.
Specimen Stability
Ambient: 48 hours; Refrigerated: 7 days; Frozen: 30 days
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Gel barrier tubes.
Methodology
Immunoassay
Setup Schedule
Monday - Saturday
Report Available
1-3 days (From receipt at performing laboratory)
Reference Range
By 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
