Amiodarone, Serum
Use
This test is useful for monitoring amiodarone therapy, especially when coadministered with other drugs that interact. It evaluates the potential for amiodarone toxicity and is used to assess patient compliance. Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic agent used to manage life-threatening arrhythmias, such as recurrent ventricular fibrillation and hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia. The test helps clinicians ensure therapeutic levels and mitigate the risk of side effects and drug interactions.
Special Instructions
It is essential to draw blood no sooner than 12 hours after the last dose or right before the next scheduled dose to ensure an accurate trough value. The test should be ordered following the guidelines for therapeutics and cardiovascular diagnostics, ensuring proper documentation and requisition forms accompany the specimen if not ordered electronically.
Limitations
The test may yield inaccurate results if the specimen is collected in gel tubes or anticoagulated tubes. Therapeutic and toxic ranges are based solely on the parent drug, not the metabolite, although similar concentrations of the metabolite are expected at steady state. Numerous drug interactions with amiodarone necessitate clinical follow-up for optimal use. Elevated levels can lead to toxicity, with potential thyroid, neurological, and gastrointestinal side effects.
New York Approved
Methodology
Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Biomarkers
LOINC Codes
- 55152-3
- 3330-8
- 6774-4
Result Turnaround Time
2-5 days
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Serum
Volume
1.5 mL
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Container
Red top (serum gel/SST are not acceptable)
Collection Instructions
Draw blood no sooner than 12 hours (trough value) after last dose or immediately before next scheduled dose. Within 2 hours of collection, centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.
Causes for Rejection
Specimens obtained from gel tubes or anticoagulate collections can cause assay interference.
Stability Requirements
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Room Temperature | 24 hours |
| Refrigerated | 28 days |
| Frozen | 28 days |