VALPROIC ACID

Clinical Significance

Valproic Acid - Valproic acid is used as an anticonvulsant to treat certain types of seizures, to prevent migraine headaches and to treat various psychiatric illnesses such as bipolar disorder and aggression. Drugs that compete for protein-binding sites with valproic acid can increase the concentration of valproic acid. Therapeutic drug monitoring is useful to optimize dose. Measurement of the free concentration is useful if toxicity is suspected.

Preferred Specimen(s)
1 mL serum collected in a red-top tube (no gel)

Alternative Specimen(s)
Plasma collected in: EDTA (lavender-top), sodium heparin (green-top), lithium heparin (green-top), sodium fluoride or potassium oxalate (gray-top), or 3.2% sodium citrate (light blue-top) tube

Minimum Volume
0.2 mL

Transport Container
Transport tube

Transport Temperature
Room temperature

Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 5 days
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 30 days
Reject Criteria
Serum Separator Tube (SST®)

Setup Schedule

Patient Preparation
Collect as a trough just prior to next dose

Methodology
Immunoassay (IA)

Reference Range(s)
50.0-100.0 mg/L

Alternative Name(s)
Dipropylacetic Acid,Depakene®,Divalproex,Depakote®