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Valproic Acid, Free

Depakene^®, Depakote^®, Valproate, Valproex^®, Divalproes, Dipropyl acetic acid, Epilim, Valparin, Vilapro, Stavzor

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB6173, Beaker: XVALF, CHW: LAB172
Note: Due to no weekend delivery. Specimens received in lab between Friday and Sunday will not be sent out until Monday.

Department

Send Outs

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): One Gold-top SST tube.

Also acceptable: 4.5 mL Light Green top (Lithium Heparin Gel)

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum/plasma from cells within two hours of collection. Transfer serum to a plastic transport tube and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Preparation for Courier Transport

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

Rejection Criteria

Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum/plasma from cells within two hours of collection. Transfer serum to a plastic transport tube and refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

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

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 8 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 24 hours
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Aliquot plasma/serum for longer storage

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal: 72 hours

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

Laboratory

Sent to Corewell Health Reference Laboratory, Grand Rapids, MI.

Performed

Sunday – Saturday.
Results available within 2 days.

Reference Range

By report.

Test Methodology

Homogenous Enzyme Immunoassay.

Interpretation

Free valproic acid may be important to monitor in patients with altered or unpredictable protein binding capacity because valproic acid exhibits variable, dose-dependent protein binding. Valproic acid is also subject to drug-drug interactions due to displacement of protein binding. Calculating percent free attempts to minimize differences in assay cross-reactivity and may be useful in dose optimization.

CPT Codes

80165, 80164

Contacts

Last Updated

9/16/2023