| Ordering Code | 437 |
|---|---|
| Test Name | Digoxin |
| Preferred Specimen | Serum |
| Preferred Container | SST (Gold) |
| Other Specimen/Container | Plasma in Lithium Heparin (Green), Serum in Plain (Red) |
| Optimum Volume | 0.5 mL |
| Collection Instructions | Blood samples for digoxin should be collected at trough levels which is just prior to the next drug dose or at least 12 hours, preferably 24 hours after the previous digoxin dose. Considering a blood elimination half-life of 1.5 days, steady state blood concentrations require approximately 1 week after initiation of therapy - or longer in case of abnormal kidney function. |
| Handling Instructions | Send aliquot if transport time >24 hours. |
| Transport Requirements | Oahu: Refrigerated Airline: Frozen Send frozen aliquot if transport to laboratory is >2 Days |
| Specimen Stability | Ambient: 7 Days Refrigerated: 24 Hours (Centrifuged, unaliquoted gel separator tubes) 14 Days (Aliquot) Frozen: 6 Months (Aliquot) Frozen samples should be thawed only once. Test cannot be added to >24 hours unaliquoted specimens collected in a gel separator tube. |
| Rejection Criteria | Hemolyzed, Insufficient quantity, Specimen older than stability limits, Uncentrifuged gel separator tube specimens >2 hours old, Unaliquoted gel separator tube specimens >24 hours old |
| Avail. Stat | YES |
| Analytic Time | 1 Day |
| Methodology | Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay |
Reference range(s)
The reference ranges listed below are valid on this date of September 30, 2023.
| Component | Age | Male Norm | Male Critical Low | Male Critical High | Female Norm | Female Critical High | Female Critical Low | Units | Add'l info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digoxin | ALL | 0.6-2.0 | >= 2.5 | 0.6-2.0 | >= 2.5 | ng/mL |