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Sertraline and Desmethylsertraline

Zoloft

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB6151, Beaker: XSERT, Mayo: FSERT

Department

Send Outs

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): One plain Red-top tube.
Also acceptable: One dark green-top sodium heparin tube.

Do not use Serum Separator Tubes or Plasma Separator tubes.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

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

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 2.0 mL serum or plasma, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 1.2 mL)

Rejection Criteria

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

In-Lab Processing

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

Transport: 2.0 mL serum or plasma, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 1.2 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 72 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 6 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 Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester, MN. Forwarded to Medtox Laboratories.

Performed

Monday – Sunday.
Results available in 4-8 days.

Reference Range

By report.

Test Methodology

Quantitative Liquid Chromatography / Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Interpretation

No therapeutic range exists for sertraline. Dosing should begin at 50 mg/d, not to exceed 200 mg/d. Dosing above 200 mg/d is associated with increased adverse effects and decreased efficacy. Dosing of 50-200 mg/d gives serum values ranging from 30-200 ng/mL.

Clinical Utility

Sertraline is indicated for the treatment of depression. This assay is used for the therapeutic monitoring and toxicity assessment of sertraline.

CPT Codes

80332

Contacts

Last Updated

9/25/2023