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22407 Carbamazepine

Carbamazepine
Test Code: CARBAM
Synonyms/Keywords
Tegretol, Carbatrol​
Useful For
Carbamazepine is an anticonvulsant drug that is used for control of generalized and partial seizures due to the rapid control of excessive cerebral electrical discharges.    The serum level of the drug must be maintained within a narrow tolerance. If serum levels of the drug are too low, seizure control is not maintained, and if serum levels are too high, the risk of toxicity increases. ​
Specimen Requirements
Fasting Required Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
No​ Serum/ Plasma​Serum Separator Tube (SST)
Red Top Tube (RTT)​Lithium or Sodium-heparin Green Top (GTT)
Lithium-heparin Plasma Separator (PST)​
0.5 mL​0.3 mL​ ​
Collection Processing Instructions
Serum/plasma must be removed from gel within 24 hours of collection.
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
Serum/Plasma​ ​ ​ Ambient​ 1 day​
Refrigerate​ 1 week​
Frozen​ 1 year​
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
Diagnostic Treatment Center​ ​Monday through Sunday​​Less than 2 hours​​Turbidimetric Inhibition Immunoassay Method/Siemens Dimension
​Lakeview Medical Center​Monday through Sunday​​Less than 2 hours​​Turbidimetric Inhibition Immunoassay Method/Siemens Dimension
Marshfield​Monday through Sunday​Less than 2 hours​Emit* 2000 Rate Assay/Beckman AU
Test Information
Trough level: draw sample just prior to next oral dose. When toxicity is suspected, draw a peak level at least 6 hours after oral dose.
Time to steady state (Adult/child): 3 - 6 days/2 - 4 days.
Allow 1 week minimum for a new steady state when dosing is changed. Time to peak level: 6 hours. Monitoring of active metabolite (carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide) is of value when other anticonvulsants are given with carbamazepine.​
Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
All Performing Sites Therapeutic Range:  4.0 – 12.0 ug/mL
Carbamazepine only: 8-12 ug/mL
Multiple Anticonvulsants: 4-8 ug/mL ​
​ See Critical Value List for list of current critical values​​
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
80156  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
Synonyms/Keywords
Tegretol, Carbatrol​
Ordering Applications
Ordering Application Description
​Centricity

​a. Carbamazepine (Tegretol)

b. Tegretol (Carbamazepine)

​Cerner ​Carbamazepine Level
If the ordering application you are looking for is not listed, contact your local laboratory for assistance.
Specimen Requirements
Fasting Required Specimen Type Preferred Container/Tube Acceptable Container/Tube Specimen Volume Specimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)		 Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
No​ Serum/ Plasma​Serum Separator Tube (SST)
Red Top Tube (RTT)​Lithium or Sodium-heparin Green Top (GTT)
Lithium-heparin Plasma Separator (PST)​
0.5 mL​0.3 mL​ ​
Collection Processing
Serum/plasma must be removed from gel within 24 hours of collection.
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type Temperature Time
Serum/Plasma​ ​ ​ Ambient​ 1 day​
Refrigerate​ 1 week​
Frozen​ 1 year​
Useful For
Carbamazepine is an anticonvulsant drug that is used for control of generalized and partial seizures due to the rapid control of excessive cerebral electrical discharges.    The serum level of the drug must be maintained within a narrow tolerance. If serum levels of the drug are too low, seizure control is not maintained, and if serum levels are too high, the risk of toxicity increases. ​
Reference Range Information
Performing Location Reference Range
All Performing Sites Therapeutic Range:  4.0 – 12.0 ug/mL
Carbamazepine only: 8-12 ug/mL
Multiple Anticonvulsants: 4-8 ug/mL ​
​ See Critical Value List for list of current critical values​​
For more information visit:
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing Location Day(s) Test Performed Analytical Time Methodology/Instrumentation
Diagnostic Treatment Center​ ​Monday through Sunday​​Less than 2 hours​​Turbidimetric Inhibition Immunoassay Method/Siemens Dimension
​Lakeview Medical Center​Monday through Sunday​​Less than 2 hours​​Turbidimetric Inhibition Immunoassay Method/Siemens Dimension
Marshfield​Monday through Sunday​Less than 2 hours​Emit* 2000 Rate Assay/Beckman AU
For billing questions, see Contacts
Outreach CPTs
CPT Modifier
(if needed)		 Quantity Description Comments
80156  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
For most current information refer to the Marshfield Laboratory online reference manual.