Escitalopram

Overview

  • EPIC Code:
  • LAB2639
  • Soft Test Code:
  • Send Out Test Code:
  • 15857
Alternate Names
  • Celexa®
  • Citalopram
  • Escitalopram
  • Lexapro®
Included Tests

Citalopram; Escitalopram


Clinical Significance

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Antidepressant


Specimen Collection & Preparation

Specimen Requirements:

-OR-

1.0 mL Serum from a Red Top Tube in a Plastic Vial
Minimum Volume:
0.3 mL Serum*

* This volume does not allow for repeat testing

Processing Instructions:

Centrifuge and separate serum from cells within 1 hour of collection, pipette into plastic vial. 


Rejection Criteria:

Separation tubes containing polymer gel

Serum Separator Tube (SST)

Plasma Separtor Tube (PST)


Transport and Storage:
  • Ambient (18-24°C): 30 Days
  • Refrigerated (2-8°C): 30 Days

    Transport 

  • Frozen (-20° C or colder): 7 Months

    Do not use frost free units that undergo repeated freeze/thaw cycles.

Clinical Interpretation

Reference Range:

Citalopram / Escitalopram: None Detected

Reporting Limit 5.0 ng/mL


Test Comments:

Steady-state serum or plasma levels from patients on a daily regimen of 30 to 60 mg Citalopram: 9-200  g/mL.
Steady-state peak plasma levels from patients on a regimen of 10 or 30 mg Escitalopram: 21 and 64 ng/mL, respectively, and occur at approximately 4 hours post dose.

This test is not chiral specific; therefore, Citalopram and/or Escitalopram may be present. Concentrations are dependent on the form of drug administered.


Methodology:
  • High Performance Liquid Chromatography / Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Clinical Significance

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Antidepressant


Production Schedule

Sites Performed
  • Quest - Chantilly to NMS Laboratories
Days Performed
Tuesday
Thursday
Departments
  • Sendouts - Miscellaneous
Turn Around Time

4 to 5 days


Coding & Compliance

CDM

00913333


CPT Coding

80332