Infectious Disease Pharmacokinetics Laboratory (IDPL) Serum and Plasma Collection, Handling and Shipping

Use the attached Requisition Form in PDF format to request samples. Complete one column of information for drug to be assayed. Make as many photocopies as you need.

All specimens sent to the laboratory should conform to all Federal and IATA shipping regulations.

Thank you for choosing National Jewish Health Advanced Diagnostic Laboratories (ADx).

Sample:

Two milliliters of serum (collect 4ml of blood) are required per test.

1. The patient should come to clinic with his/her medications.
2. No medication should have been taken since the previously scheduled doses (12 to 24 hours prior
3. Observe the taking of the medications, and record the exact time (and date).
4. Please refer to the requisition for the recommended times for blood draw for each drug. Using a red top vacuum tube, collect the blood at the appropriate time(s).
   • For many drugs, a 2-hour peak sample will be collected. You can consider a second blood draw 6 hours post dose to rule out late absorption, or to determine the serum half-life for certain drugs that have short half-lives, such isoniazid and rifampin.
   • For most HIV drugs, the preferred time of draw is a pre-dose trough.
   • For streptomycin, please tell us if the patient is also receiving ampicillin.
   • Capreomycin is now measured by HPLC, and no longer requires bioassay restrictions. Kanamycin is still measured using a bioassay. Therefore, it is not possible to measure kanamycin without stopping all other antibiotics for at least 24 hours prior to sampling. This includes TMP-SMX and other antibacterial agents that many patients receive for other infections.
5. After the blood clots, centrifuge the samples, harvest the serum into labeled polypropylene (or polyethylene) tubes, and freeze (-70°C is preferable, if available).
6. Label the tubes with the patient's name, date and time of collection, and the drug(s) to be assayed.
7. Place the samples in a zip-lock plastic bag, and pack upright in a Styrofoam box (about 10 cubic inches in size) with 3 pounds of dry ice. Fill the empty air space with paper or Styrofoam "peanuts" or similar material.
8. In order for the test to be performed the billing portion of the requisition must be completed. Place the requisition and billing page in a plastic bag and tape to the outside of the lid. The foam box is placed inside a cardboard box to prevent damage.
9. Ship samples by an overnight delivery service that accepts dry ice packages.

If you have questions please call the Infectious Disease Pharmacokinetics Laboratory at (303) 398-1422 or Client Services at 1-800-550-6227.