Digoxin, Free




Test Mnemonic

DIGFR

CPT Codes

  • 80163 - QTY (1)

LOINC ®

3562-6

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Dpt of Lab Med & Pathology


Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
1 mLSerumSST (Gold) RefrigeratedCollect specimen 6 to 8 hours after last dose. Centrifuge and aliquot specimen within 2 hours of collection.

Alternate Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
1 mLSerumNo additive (Red) RefrigeratedCollect specimen 6 to 8 hours after last dose. Centrifuge and aliquot specimen within 2 hours of collection.

Minimum Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
0.5 mL     

Stability

Environmental Condition Description
AmbientUnacceptable
Refrigerated7 days
Frozen180 days

Days Performed

Sun - Sat

Turnaround Time

2 - 3 days

Methodology

Name Description
Electro Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (ECLIA) 
Ultrafiltration (ULT) 

Special Info

Grossly hemolyzed specimens will be rejected. This test is New York State approved.

Clinical Info

Useful for evaluating recrudescent (breakthrough) digoxin toxicity in renal-failure patients; assessing the need for more antidigoxin Fab to be administered; deciding when to reintroduce digoxin therapy, and monitoring patients with possible digoxin-like immunoreactive factors (DLIFs). The suggested therapeutic range is 0.4 - 0.9 ng/mL for patients > or = 16 years of age. Toxicity may be seen when free digoxin concentrations are > or = 3.0 ng/mL. Therapeutic ranges have not been established for patients < 16 years of age. Pediatric patients may tolerate higher concentrations. Therapeutic concentrations for free digoxin are 25% lower than therapeutic values for total digoxin due to the separation of protein-bound digoxin in the assay.