For monitoring purposes, blood should not be drawn until a steady state has been attained. This will not be achieved until 1 to 3 weeks after starting therapy or changing the dose.
Tube
01 (SE) – Serum Gel
ID
Tests&Tubes0044
Additional Information
For monitoring purposes, blood should not be drawn until a steady state has been attained. This will not be achieved until 1-3 weeks after starting therapy or changing dose. Hypercalcaemia, hypomagnasaemia and hypothyroidism may increase sensitivity as will other causes of hypokalaemia e.g diarrhoea, corticosteroids, carbenoxolone.
Indications for monitoring:
a) Initial poor response to treatment – serum digoxin will indicate level achieved and provide guidance on dosage increase
b) Helping to confirm diagnosis of toxicity although concomitant hypokalaemia must be taken into account
c) When previous drug history is uncertain particularly in elderly patients receiving a number of drugs
d) To facilitate discontinuation of therapy
e) When renal function is deteriorating or fluctuating
f) when drugs known to interfere or interact with digoxin are started or stopped e.g Verapamil and digoxin in intractable SVT- digoxin may be used at reduced dose.
Turn Around
A&E: 1 hour
Day Case: N/A
In-Patient: 6 Hours
Out-Patient: 24 Hours
GP: 24 Hours
Send to
Blood Sciences Cross Site.
Contact
For further details please contact Leeds Pathology customer services: [email protected].
Collection Con
Blood must be taken at least 6 hrs after last oral dose. Intensive care units, renal unit, transplant unit, patients on IV heparin use lithium-heparin (Green with Yellow ring) tube. Minimum volume: 500µl serum / plasma
Instructions for Lab Staff: Standard lab processing- No special requirements.
Sample REQ
Blood.
Ref. Range Notes
Units
ug/L