ARUP's Laboratory Test Directory

Pentobarbital : 0090225

Mnemonic: PENTO

Methodology: Quantitative Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Performed: Mon-Sun
Reported: 1-2 days
Specimen Required: Patient Prep: Timing of specimen collection: Pre-dose (trough) draw - At steady state concentration.

Collect: Plain red. Also acceptable: Lavender (K2 or K3EDTA) or pink (K2EDTA).

Specimen Preparation: Separate serum or plasma from cells within 2 hours of collection. Transfer 1 mL serum or plasma to an ARUP Standard Transport Tube. (Min: 0.5 mL)

Storage/Transport Temperature: Refrigerated.

Unacceptable Conditions: Whole blood. Gel separator tubes, light blue (citrate), or yellow (SPS or ACD solution).

Stability (collection to initiation of testing): After separation from cells: Ambient: 3 months; Refrigerated: 3 months; Frozen: 1 year
Reference Interval:
Effective February 19, 2013
 
Therapeutic Range Sedation: 1-5 µg/mL
Intracranial Pressure (ICP) Therapy: 25-35 µg/mL
Coma: 10-50 µg/mL
Toxic Level Greater than 10 µg/mL

Interpretive Data: Toxic concentrations may cause respiratory depression, hypotension, coma and death. 
CPT Code(s): 82205
Cross References: Nembutal (Pentobarbital)