Nortriptyline

Test Code

NOR

Alias/See Also

Nortriptyline

Quest Code
272

CPT Codes
80335 (HCPCS: G0480)

Preferred Specimen

3 mL serum collected in a no additive (red-top) tube, transferred to a plastic screw-cap vial

Minimum Volume

Serum: 1.5 mL
Plasma: 1 mL

Other Acceptable Specimens

3 mL plasma collected in an EDTA (lavender-top) tube, transferred to a plastic screw-cap vial
3 mL plasma collected in a sodium heparin (green-top) tube, transferred to a plastic screw-cap vial

Patient Preparation
Collect at steady-state trough concentration. Specimen should be collected >12 hours after dose.

Transport Temperature

Refrigerated

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 5 days
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 30 days

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

Gross hemolysis
Collection in gel separator tubes

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

Setup Schedule

Monday-Thursday, Saturday a.m.
Friday a.m. and nights

Report Available

Next day

Clinical Significance

Nortriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant. Therapeutic drug levels are monitored to assist the physician assessing therapeutic response and to avoid toxicity.

Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute
Chantilly, VA

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.