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Synonyms
- Depacon®
- Depakene®
- Depakote®
- Free Valproic Acid
- Stavzor™
- Valproate
Expected Turnaround Time
2 - 4 days
Turnaround time is defined as the usual number of days from the date of pickup of a specimen for testing to when the result is released to the ordering provider. In some cases, additional time should be allowed for additional confirmatory or additional reflex tests. Testing schedules may vary.
Specimen Requirements
Specimen
Serum or plasma
Volume
3 mL
Minimum Volume
1.1 mL
Container
Red-top tube or lavender-top (EDTA) tube. Do not use a gel-barrier tube. The use of gel-barrier tubes is not recommended due to slow absorption of the drug by the gel. Depending on the specimen volume and storage time, the decrease in drug level due to absorption may be clinically significant.
Collection
Transfer separated serum or plasma to a plastic transport tube.
Storage Instructions
Room temperature
Stability Requirements
Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
Room temperature | 14 days |
Refrigerated | 14 days |
Frozen | 14 days |
Freeze/thaw cycles | Stable x3 |
Causes for Rejection
Gel-barrier tube; hemolysis; serum or plasma not removed from cells
Test Details
Use
Since valproic acid is highly bound, drugs that compete for protein binding sites can increase the amount of free valproic acid (biologically active protein); these include dicumarol, high dose salicylates, and phenylbutazone. If toxicity is suspected, a free valproic acid level should be obtained.
Methodology
Ultrafiltrate assayed by Immunoassay (IA)
Reference Interval
Therapeutic: 6.0-22.0 μg/mL
References
Jacobson SA. Laboratory Medicine in Psychiatry and Behavioral Science. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2012:368.
LOINC® Map
| Order Code | Order Code Name | Order Loinc | Result Code | Result Code Name | UofM | Result LOINC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 070789 | Free Valproic Acid (Depakote) | 4087-3 | 070790 | Free Valproic Acid (Depakote) | ug/mL | 4087-3 |
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The LOINC® codes are copyright © 1994-2021, Regenstrief Institute, Inc. and the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) Committee. Permission is granted in perpetuity, without payment of license fees or royalties, to use, copy, or distribute the LOINC® codes for any commercial or non-commercial purpose, subject to the terms under the license agreement found at https://loinc.org/license/. Additional information regarding LOINC® codes can be found at LOINC.org, including the LOINC Manual, which can be downloaded at LOINC.org/downloads/files/LOINCManual.pdf