Specimen Requirements

Preferred Collection Container: 

SST (Serum Separator)
Light Green (Lithium Heparin Plasma Separator Tube)

Also Acceptable Collection Container: 

Red (No Additive)
Green No Gel (Lithium Heparin)

Collection Information: 

Collect blood in a serum separator tube or lithium plasma separator tube. (serum red top tube and heparin green top also acceptable).

Transport Information: 

Centrifuge and aliquot 0.4 mL of serum or plasma into a plastic transport vial. Send refrigerated.

Minimum Sample Volume: 

0.07 serum or plasma (approximately 0.14 mL of whole blood based upon a normal patient hematocrit)

Remarks: 

Collect peak blood levels at 3 hours after the last dose; collect trough blood levels just before the next dose is given. A Phenobarbital Level is included in the Primidone Test Order. Phenobarbital is a Metabolite of Primidone.