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HelpTest ID BUTAS Butalbital, Serum
Specimen Required
Collection Container/Tube: Red top (Serum gel/SST are not acceptable)
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial
Specimen Volume: 1.2 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Draw blood immediately before next scheduled dose.
2. Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial within 2 hours of collection.
Forms
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Therapeutics Test Request (T831) with the specimen.
Useful For
Monitoring butalbital therapy
Method Name
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
Reporting Name
Butalbital, SSpecimen Type
Serum RedSpecimen Minimum Volume
0.6 mL
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Serum Red | Refrigerated (preferred) | 14 days |
| Ambient | 14 days | |
| Frozen | 14 days |
Clinical Information
Butalbital, short-acting barbiturate with hypnotic properties, is used in combination with other drugs such as acetaminophen, salicylate, caffeine, and codeine.(1)
Butalbital is administered orally. The duration of its hypnotic effect is about 3 to 4 hours. The drug distributes throughout the body, with a volume of distribution of 0.8 L/kg, and about 26% of a dose is bound to plasma proteins. The half-life of butalbital is about 35 to 88 hours. Excretion occurs mainly in the urine.(1,2)
Reference Values
<10 mcg/mL
Cautions
Specimens collected in serum gel tubes are not acceptable because the drug can absorb on the gel and lead to falsely decreased concentrations.
Day(s) Performed
Wednesday
Report Available
3 to 9 daysPerforming Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
Test Classification
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.CPT Code Information
80345
G0480 (if appropriate)