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Therapeutic Drug Levels
Alternate Names : Acetaminophen - Serum, Amikacin - Serum, Aminophylline - Serum, Amitriptyline - Serum, Carbamazepine - Serum, Chloramphenicol - Serum, Desipramine - Serum, Digitoxin - Serum, Digoxin - Serum, Disopyramide - Serum, Ethosuximide - Serum, Flecainide - Serum, Gentamicin - Serum, Imipramine - Serum, Kanamycin - Serum, Lidocaine - Serum, Lithium - Serum, Methotrexate - Serum, Nortriptyline - Serum, Phenobarbital - Serum, Phenytoin - Serum, Primidone - Serum, Procainamide - Serum, Propranolol - Serum, Quinidine - Serum, Salicylate - Serum, Serum Drug Levels, TDM, Theophylline - Serum, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Tobramycin - Serum, Valproic Acid - Serum
How is the Test Performed?
Blood is drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The puncture site is cleaned with antiseptic, and an elastic band is placed around the upper arm to cause the vein to swell with blood.
A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in air-tight vials or a syringe. During the procedure, the band is removed to restore circulation. Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.
Infant or young child:
The area is cleansed with antiseptic and punctured with a sharp needle or a lancet. The blood may be collected in a pipette (small glass tube), on a slide, onto a test strip, or into a small container. Cotton or a bandage may be applied to the puncture site if there is any continued bleeding.
The sample is then taken to the laboratory, where it is evaluated for the particular drug specified by your health care provider.
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• Definition
• Why is the Test Performed?
• How is the Test Performed?
• How to Prepare for the Test?
• How will the Test Feel?
• Normal Values
• What do Abnormal Results Mean?
• Special Considerations
• Risks
Topics that might be of interest to you Tests & Exams
• Venipuncture
Other Topics
• Adolescent Test or Procedure Preparation
• Bleeding
• Fainting
• Infant Test/Procedure Preparation
• Metabolism
• Preschooler Test/Procedure Preparation
• School Age Test/Procedure Preparation
• Toddler Test/Procedure Preparation
Review Date : 11/3/2003
Reviewed By : Sherry Woodhouse, M.D., Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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