Carbamazepine, Blood - Saskatoon
Discipline
Biochemistry
Overview
Description
- For trough level tests, collect specimen immediately prior to the next dose
Alias
- Tegretol
Specimen Information
Specimen types accepted
- Plasma
Specimen collection container
- Preferred collection container: Light Green (Lithium Heparin gel)
- Alternative collection container: Gold (gel)
Required volume
- Optimal volume: 4.5 mL full collection tube
- Minimum volume: 1.0 mL
(Submitting the minimum volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory/reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum volume may require a second collection.)
Transport and stability
- 7 days at 2 – 8°C
Rejection criteria
- Specimens received where the proper collection protocols were not followed
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Acceptance and Rejection Criteria
Testing Information
Relevant clinical history
Relevant recent medication history
- Note on requisition the dosage, date and time when medication was given
Performance
Methodology
- Homogeneous Microparticle agglutination immunoassay
Days/times performed
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Maximum laboratory time
Results reporting
- In hospital reported within 2 hours
- Community urgent and inter-hospital reported within 4 hours
- Community routine reported within 24 hours
- Critical results of > 61.0 µmol/L will be phoned
Specimen retention time
- 3 days
Last Updated: February 26, 2026