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Free Valproic Acid, Serum (087-0598)
Test Mnemonic:

VALPR FREE

Specimen Requirements:
Collection:

Routine venipuncture

Draw peak sample 1 to 3 hours after an oral dose is given. Draw trough sample immediately before the next dose. Collect 7 mL of blood in red-topped vacutainer tube. Do not use SST/gel separator tubes. (Min: 3 mL of blood). 

DO NOT draw blood in SST/gel separator vacutainer tube.

Minimum Volume:

3 mL of blood

Storage/Transport:

Delivered to Sample Management within 2 hours of collection.

Specimen Preparation:

Allow specimen to clot completely at room temperature. Centrifuge to separate serum from cells within 2 hours of collection. Transfer serum from collection tube to labeled plastic transport tube. 

Stability:

Room Temperature for ≤24 hours; Refrigerated   for ≤14 days; Frozen for ≤14 days.

Causes for Rejection:

Blood drawn in SST/gel separator vacutainer tube, incomplete and/or incorrect sample identification, improper storage/transport , gross hemolysis, icterus or lipemia.    

Reference Range:

By report (reports may vary based on instrumentation, patient age and sex).

Turnaround Time:

Routine: 8 hours; ASAP: 4 hours; STAT: 1 hours

Methodology:

FPIA

Performed:

24 hours a day; 7 days a week

Lab:

Clinical Chemistry

Patient Preparation :

Draw peak sample 1 to 3 hours after an oral dose is given. Draw trough sample immediately before the next dose.

CPT 4 Code:

80164

When ordering tests for which Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement will be sought, physicians should only order tests that are medically necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of the patient. Components of the organ or disease panels may be ordered individually. The diagnostic information must substantiate all tests ordered and must be in the form of an ICD-10 code or its verbal equivalent.
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