Infectious Disease Pharmacokinetics Laboratory (IDPL) - Serum and Plasma

Download a requisition form (pdf) 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 Advanced Diagnostic Laboratories (ADx) at National Jewish Health.

Collection, Handling and Shipping

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 (Word doc) 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. Collect collect 4mL of blood into a red top tube. After the blood clots, centrifuge the samples, aliquot 2mL of serum into labeled polypropylene or similar plastic tube.

6. POSITIVE PATIENT IDENTIFICATION [Labeling] requires we use two (2) pieces of information [identifiers].

   • The standard two patient identifiers for ADx Laboratories are patient FULL NAME and DATE OF BIRTH.
   • Limited exception for de-identified samples would be the sample NUMBER and patient DATE OF BIRTH.
   • Both identifiers must match exactly on the specimen label and the requisition/order that corresponds to that specimen.
   • Where appropriate for multiple samples submitted together, specimen collection information (e.g. site or source, date and time of collection, etc.) must also be included on the specimen label. 
7. Freeze sample (-70°C is preferable, if available) ASAP.

8. Place the samples in a zip-type 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.

9. Send frozen serum priority overnight via FedEx in a well insulated container.

Address the package to:
National Jewish Health
IDPL, room K425
1400 Jackson St
Denver, CO. USA 80206
(800) 550-6227