Carbamazepine
Code:
CARB
Sample Type:
Serum (Gold Top)
Minimum volume: 1 mL
Ref Ranges/Units:
Therapeutic range 4.0 – 12.0 mg/L
Turnaround:
Same Day (60 minutes from receipt for Urgent Samples)
Stability:
2 days capped at 20‑25°C
7 days capped at 2‑8°C
4 weeks capped at −20°C
Special Precautions/Comments:
Trough sample recommended (blood drawn immediately before scheduled dose).
Additional Information:
Carbamazepine (Tegretol) is an anticonvulsant drug used in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, epilepsy and bipolar affective disorder. Therapeutic drug monitoring allows the optimal therapeutic dose to be achieved by avoiding both subtherapeutic and toxic levels.
South of Tyne & Wear Pathology Centre
