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Test ID: SECOS Secobarbital, Serum

Reporting Name

Secobarbital, S

Useful For

Monitoring secobarbital therapy

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)

Interpretation

Secobarbital concentrations above 5 mcg/mL have been associated with toxicity.

Report Available

3 to 9 days

Day(s) Performed

Thursday

Clinical Reference

1. Langman LJ, Bechtel LK, Holstege CP. Chapter 43: Clinical toxicology. In: Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, Burnham C-AD, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2023:454-454.e484

2. Baselt RC. Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemical in Man. 12th ed. Biomedical Publications; 2020.

3. Milone MC, Shaw LM. Chapter 42: Therapeutic Drugs and Their Management. In: Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, Burnham C-AD, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2023:420-453

4. Mihic SJ, Mayfield J. Hypnotics and Sedatives. In: Brunton LL, Knollmann BC, eds. In: Goodman and Gilman's: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 14th ed. McGraw-Hill Education; 2023

Method Name

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)

Specimen Type

Serum Red


Specimen Required


Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube, 5 mL (T914)

Collection Container/Tube: Red top (Serum gel/SST are not acceptable)

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 1.5 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Collect specimen immediately before next scheduled dose.

2. Centrifuge and aliquot serum into plastic vial within 2 hours of collection.


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.6 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Serum Red Refrigerated (preferred) 14 days
  Ambient  14 days
  Frozen  14 days

Reference Values

Therapeutic concentration: 1.0-2.0 mcg/mL

Toxic concentration: >5.0 mcg/mL

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

80299

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
SECOS Secobarbital, S 4028-7

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
8243 Secobarbital, S 4028-7

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)

Mayo Clinic Laboratories | Neurology Catalog Additional Information:

mml-Epilepsy, mml-Neuro-oncology