Skip to main content

Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

  or
  or
  or

CARBAMAZEPINE LEVEL

Geisinger Epic Procedure Code:  LAB1939    Geisinger Epic ID:  14237

SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Specimen type: 

Serum or plasma


Preferred collection container: 
Specimen required: 

2 mL aliquot of serum or plasma; minimum 0.2 mL


Patient preparation: 

Trough level - immediately before next dose; peak level - 3 hours after oral capsules, 1 hour after oral syrup.



SPECIMEN PROCESSING
Processing instructions: 

Allow serum to clot. Centrifuge to separate serum or plasma within 2 hours of collection.


Transport temperature: 

Refrigerated (preferred) or frozen.


Specimen stability: 

Room temperature: 2 days. Refrigerated: 1 week. Frozen: 4 weeks.


Rejection criteria: 

Stability limits exceeded.



TEST DETAILS
Interpretation guide: 

Therapeutic range: 4-12 mcg/mL.


Critical values/courtesy alerts: 
> 20 mcg/mL.
Additional information: 

Significant interferences with this procedure may occur in patients with antibodies induced during treatment with mouse monoclonal antibodies.


CPT code(s):  80156
Note: The billing party has sole responsibility for CPT coding.  Any questions regarding coding should be directed to the payer being billed.
The CPT codes provided by GML are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only.

Test includes: 

Carbamazepine.


Methodology: 
Immunoassay
Synonyms: 

Tegretol, CARBAM


Clinical significance: 

Carbemazepine is an anticonvulsant which is structurally related to the tricyclic antidepressants and is useful in treating patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. Carbemazepine levels are monitored to assure adequate therapeutic levels are achieved and to avoid toxicity.


Doctoral Director(s): 
Hoi-Ying Elsie Yu, PhD, DABCC, FADLM
Sheng-Ying (Margaret) Lo, PhD, DABCC
Review Date:  12/27/2024

Performing Locations