Gentamicin
| Sunquest Code: | GENT | ||
| Epic Code: | LAB28 | Epic Name: | Gentamicin Level |
| Methodology: | Turbidimetric rate | ||
| CPT Code: | ----------CPTCODES HERE---------- | ||
| Turnaround Time: | Performed and reported 24 hours/day. | ||
| Special Instructions: | Comment last dose information on request form. | ||
Collection Instructions
| Specimen: | Blood |
| Optimal Volume: | 2.5 mL |
| Minimum\Peds Volume: | 0.6 mL; pediatric patients only: 0.4 mL in green (lithium heparin, no gel) |
| Container: | Red (no gel) (Green (lithium heparin, no gel)) |
| Collection Instructions: | Trough levels: Collect immediately prior to the next dose. Peak levels: collect 60 minutes after the end of IV infusion; 1-2 hours if decreased renal function. |
| Causes for Rejection: | Processed >2 hours after collection and patient is receiving beta-lactam antibiotics structurally similar to gentamicin (e.g. netilmicin, sagamicin and sisomicin) or cephalosporin; collection in a gel tube |
Processing and Shipping
| Specimen Processing: | Centrifuge and assay immediately. If assaying is delayed more than 2 hours, then aliquot and freeze the sample, 1.25 mL, 0.2 mL minimum (adult) 0.1 mL minimum (peds). |
| Shipping Instructions: | Ship on dry ice. |
| Stability: | If specimen is received more than 2 hours after collection, check with the PCU/Clinic to see whether the patient is receiving beta-lactam antibiotics or cephalosporins; if so, cancel the test. Beta-lactam antibiotics and cephalosporins will inactivate aminoglycosides causing falsely low results. |
| Test Performed at or Referral Lab | Chemistry (Fairview Range - FRMC, UMMC-East Bank, Fairview Lakes - FLMC, Fairview Ridges - FRH, Fairview Southdale - FSH, UMMC/UMMCH-West Bank) |
Interpretive
| Critical Range: | Greater than 16 mg/L for traditional dosing; Greater than 35 mg/L for single daily dosing. Trough: greater than 2 mg/L |
| Therapeutic Range: | Trough <1 mg/L; Peak: 5.0-12.0 mg/L, depending on dosage. |
| Use: | Monitor therapeutic dosing. Half-life is 1.5-3 h (adult <30 y); 3-6 h (adult >30 y); 4-8 h (neonate). |
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