Specimen Requirements

Title

Bupropion (Wellbutrin) and Metabolite, Serum or Plasma

Specimen Requirement

Collect Red Top, Lavender EDTA, Sodium Heparin or Sodium Fluoride. Spin, separate serum/plasma from cells within 2 hours. Transfer 2.0 mL serum/plasma to screw top transport tube, indicate specimen type on transport tube and freeze. Send on dry ice.

CRITICAL FROZEN

Timing of specimen collection: Pre-dose draw at steady state concentration

Methodology

Quantitative Liquid Chromatography - Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Stability

Frozen: 14 days

Reference Range

The reference range is determined by the performing laboratory and will show on the report.

Turnaround

9-11 days, Performed Mondays

Clinical Use

The therapeutic range is based on serum pre-dose (trough) draw at steady-state concentration. Toxic concentrations may cause mental confusion, cardiac abnormalities and seizures. Concentrations below 25 ng/mL may have no effect. This method does not quantify the major metabolite, hydroxybupropion.

Test Code

BUP