Sign in →

Test Code SECOS Secobarbital, Serum

Reporting Name

Secobarbital, S

Useful For

Monitoring secobarbital therapy

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Specimen Type

Serum Red


Specimen Required


Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube, 5 mL (T914)

Collection Container/Tube: Red top (Serum gel/SST are not acceptable)

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 1.5 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Collect specimen immediately before next scheduled dose.

2. Centrifuge and aliquot serum into plastic vial within 2 hours of collection.


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.6 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Red Refrigerated (preferred) 14 days
  Ambient  14 days
  Frozen  14 days

Reference Values

Therapeutic concentration: 1.0-2.0 mcg/mL

Toxic concentration: >5.0 mcg/mL

Day(s) Performed

Thursday

Test Classification

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information

80299

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
SECOS Secobarbital, S 4028-7

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
8243 Secobarbital, S 4028-7

Clinical Information

Secobarbital is a short-acting barbiturate with hypnotic properties used as a preanesthetic agent and in the short-term treatment of insomnia.(1,2)

 

Secobarbital is administered orally. The duration of its hypnotic effect is about 3 to 4 hours. The drug distributes throughout the body, with a volume of distribution of 1.6 to 1.9 L/kg, and about 46% to 70% of a dose is bound to plasma proteins. Metabolism takes place in the liver primarily via hepatic microsomal enzymes. The half-life of secobarbital is about 15 to 40 hours (mean: 28 hours).(2,3)

Interpretation

Secobarbital concentrations above 5 mcg/mL have been associated with toxicity.

Cautions

The concentration at which toxicity occurs varies and results should be interpreted in light of the 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.

Report Available

3 to 9 days

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia OK
Gross icterus OK

Method Name

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send 1 of the following forms with the specimen:

-Neurology Specialty Testing Client Test Request (T732)

-Therapeutics Test Request (T831)