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HelpTest ID SECOS Secobarbital, 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 in plastic vial within 2 hours of collection.
Forms
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send 1 of the following forms with the specimen:
-Neurology Specialty Testing Client Test Request (T732)
-Therapeutics Test Request (T831)
Useful For
Monitoring secobarbital therapy
Method Name
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
Reporting Name
Secobarbital, 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
Secobarbital is a short-acting barbiturate with hypnotic properties used as a preanesthetic agent and in the short-term treatment of insomnia.(1,2)
Secobarbital 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 1.6 to 1.9 L/kg, and about 46% to 70% of a dose is bound to plasma proteins. Metabolism takes place in the liver primarily via hepatic microsomal enzymes. The half-life of secobarbital is about 15 to 40 hours (mean: 28 hours).(2,3)
Reference Values
Therapeutic concentration: 1.0-2.0 mcg/mL
Toxic concentration: >5.0 mcg/mL
Cautions
The concentration at which toxicity occurs varies and results should be interpreted in light of the clinical situation.
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)