Imipramine and Desipramine, Serum or Plasma

Also known as: DESIP/IMIP

Clinical Use

Use

This test is used to optimize dosing and monitor patient adherence to imipramine and desipramine therapy. It helps ensure therapeutic levels are maintained and reduces the risk of toxicity. Therapeutic drug monitoring can assist in assessing patient compliance, managing side effects, and making informed dosage adjustments to maintain safe and effective levels of the drugs in serum or plasma.

Special Instructions

Not provided.

Limitations

Whole blood, gel separator tubes, light blue (citrate), or yellow (SPS or ACD solution) are unacceptable specimens for this test due to the potential for inaccurate results. Additionally, the test is not approved by the FDA; it was developed by the laboratory and its performance characteristics were determined at ARUP Laboratories. Toxic concentrations can cause anticholinergic effects, drowsiness, and cardiac abnormalities, underscoring the importance of careful monitoring.

Test Details

New York Approved

Methodology

Mass Spectrometry

Biomarkers

Desipramine

Analyte

Desipramine, SP

Concentration / Level • Quantitative (Continuous) (e.g., copies/mL, % expression)

Imipramine

Analyte

Imipramine, SP

Concentration / Level • Quantitative (Continuous) (e.g., copies/mL, % expression)

Imipramine/Desipramine Total

Analyte

Imipramine/Desipramine Total, SP

Concentration / Level • Quantitative (Continuous) (e.g., copies/mL, % expression)

LOINC Codes

Result Codes

3531-1 - Desipramine SerPl-mCnc
3690-5 - Imipramine SerPl-mCnc
9627-1 - Imipramine+Desipr SerPl-mCnc

Result Turnaround Time

2-8 days

Specimen

Plasma

Volume

1 mL

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Container

Plain red tube, Lavender (K2 or K3EDTA), or pink (K2EDTA) tube

Collection Instructions

Predose (trough) draw at steady-state concentration. Separate serum or plasma from cells within 2 hours of collection and transfer to ARUP standard transport tube.