Clozapine, Serum
Use
Clozapine (Clozaril), a tricyclic dibenzodiazepine, is used for the symptomatic management of psychotic disorders and is considered an atypical antipsychotic drug. It is currently used primarily for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders who are at risk for recurrent suicidal behavior and who have encountered nonresponse or adverse side effects with more classical antipsychotics. Monitoring patient compliance with clozapine treatment is essential, and this test aids in achieving desired serum levels.
Special Instructions
Collect specimen immediately before the next scheduled dose. Within 2 hours of collection, centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial. SST tubes are not acceptable.
Limitations
Clozapine treatment requires close monitoring due to potential side effects like agranulocytosis, seizure risk, and myocarditis. It should only be used for patients not responding to standard treatments. Therapeutic drug monitoring is crucial as the therapeutic range for clozapine is well-established, but for norclozapine, it is not. Assays are performed continuously from Monday to Friday.
New York Approved
Methodology
Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Biomarkers
LOINC Codes
- 65632-2
- 10992-6
- 12375-2
- 6896-5
Result Turnaround Time
3-5 days
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Serum
Volume
1 mL
Minimum Volume
0.6 mL
Container
Red top
Collection Instructions
Collect specimen immediately before next scheduled dose. Within 2 hours of collection, centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.
Stability Requirements
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Room Temperature | 7 days |
| Refrigerated | 28 days |
| Frozen | 28 days |