Carbamazepine, Total, Serum
Use
Carbamazepine is used for monitoring therapy, determining compliance, and assessing toxicity in patients. It is crucial for managing partial seizures with temporal lobe and psychomotor symptoms, as well as generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Additionally, it aids in providing analgesia in trigeminal neuralgia.
Special Instructions
This test measures carbamazepine only. For assessment of its active metabolite, carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide, which is the predominant form in children, order CARBG / Carbamazepine-10,11-Epoxide, Serum.
Limitations
Carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide (CBZ10-11) is not reported by this test. Toxicity associated with carbamazepine overdose occurs when blood levels are 15.0 mcg/mL or higher, leading to severe symptoms such as irregular breathing and impaired consciousness. Always document baseline hematologic data before treatment initiation due to potential side effects like aplastic anemia and agranulocytosis.
FDA ApprovedNew York Approved
Methodology
Immunoassay (Other)
Biomarkers
LOINC Codes
- 3432-2
- 3432-2
Result Turnaround Time
1 day
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Serum
Volume
0.5 mL
Minimum Volume
0.25 mL
Container
Red top, Plastic vial
Collection Instructions
Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial within 2 hours of collection.
Causes for Rejection
Gross hemolysis
Stability Requirements
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Room Temperature | 48 hours |
| Refrigerated | 7 days |
| Frozen | 28 days |