Pentobarbital Level (Sendout)

Useful For: Monitoring of pentobarbital therapy treatment.

Collection Timing: Draw blood immediately before next scheduled dose.

Reference Values:

Therapeutic Ranges:

This degree of sedation requires artificial respiratory support.

Interpretation: Pentobarbital concentrations above 10 mcg/mL have been associated with toxicity.

Cautions:

• The concentration at which toxicity occurs varies and results should be interpreted in light of clinical situation.
• Specimens collected in serum gel tubes are not acceptable because the drug can absorb on the gel and lead to falsely decreased concentrations.

6 mL blood in RED TOP tube

• Unacceptable: Serum gel/GOLD SST.

Collection Timing: Draw blood immediately before next scheduled dose.

Outside Laboratories: Centrifuge sample and transfer serum to a separate plastic vial within two hours of collection. Refrigerate serum while awaiting shipment. Transport with a cold pack.

• Note: Specimens collected in serum gel tubes are not acceptable because the drug can absorb on the gel and lead to falsely decreased concentrations.

Stability: Refrigerated (preferred): 14 days; Frozen: 14 days; Ambient: 14 days.

Reject Due To: Gross hemolysis or serum from a gel tube. Gross lipemia and gross icterus are acceptable.

Centrifuge sample and transfer serum to a separate plastic vial within two hours of collection. Refrigerate serum.

Sendouts:

• Order Mayo Test: PENTS
• Interfaced: Yes [Interface: 601; Worksheet: MARF]

Stability: Refrigerated (preferred): 14 days; Frozen: 14 days; Ambient: 14 days.

Reject Due To: Gross hemolysis or serum from a gel tube. Gross lipemia and gross icterus are acceptable.