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Hydroxychloroquine Level

Plaquenil™

Test Codes

NMS: 2362SP, Order as a Miscellaneous Send Out.

Department

Send Outs

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): One plain Red-top tube.

Also acceptable: One Lavender-top EDTA tube.

Do not use Serum Separator Tubes.
Time of Collection: Trough, just prior to the next dose.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Centrifuge to separate serum or plasma from cells. Transfer serum or plasma to a plastic transport tube and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 1.0 mL serum or plasma, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 0.4 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Serum Separator (SST) tubes.
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Centrifuge to separate serum or plasma from cells. Transfer serum or plasma to a plastic transport tube and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Transport: 1.0 mL serum or plasma, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 0.4 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 30 days
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 30 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 12 months

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to ARUP Laboratories, Salt Lake City, UT, forwarded to National Medical Services (NMS), Willow Grove, PA.

Performed

Thursday.
Results available in 4-11 days.

Reference Range

By report.

Test Methodology

High Performance Liquid Chromatography / Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Interpretation

By report.

Clinical Utility

This assay aids in the therapeutic monitoring of Plaquenil™ antimalarial drug that also exerts a beneficial effect in lupus erythematosus (chronic discoid or systemic) and acute or chronic rheumatoid arthritis. It is indicated for the suppressive treatment and treatment of acute attacks of malaria due to Plasmodium vivax, P. malariae, P. ovale, and susceptible strains of P. falciparum. It is also indicated for the treatment of discoid and systemic lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis.

CPT Codes

80220

Contacts

Last Updated

10/5/2023