Nortriptyline
Test Mnemonic
NORTRP
CPT Codes
- 80335/G0480 - QTY (1)
Aliases
- Aventyl
- Pamelor
- Allegron
- Noritren
- Norpress
- Nortrilen
- Sensoval
- TCA
- Tricyclic Antidepressants
Includes
- Nortriptyline
Performing Laboratory
ARUP
Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | Serum | No additive (Red) | Refrigerated | Collect immediately prior to next dose. Do not use gel separator tubes. Separate serum from cells ASAP or within 2 hours of collection and transfer into a standard aliquot tube. |
Alternate Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | Plasma | EDTA (Lavender) | Refrigerated | Collect immediately prior to next dose. Do not use gel separator tubes. Separate plasma from cells ASAP or within 2 hours of collection and transfer into a standard aliquot tube. |
Minimum Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 mL |
Stability
| Environmental Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| Ambient | 5 days |
| Frozen | 6 months |
| Refrigerated | 2 weeks |
Days Performed
Mon, Wed, Fri
Turnaround Time
2 - 8 days
Methodology
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Liquid Chromatography - Tandem Mass Spectrometry |
Reference Range
| Nortriptyline | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex | Age From | Age To | Type | Range | Range Unit |
| Years | 99 Years | Normal | Therapeutic Range: 50 - 150 | ng/mL | Toxic Level: Greater than 500 ng/mL |
Special Info
Collect immediately prior to next dose. Do not collect in a gel separator tube. This test is New York DOH approved.
Clinical Info
This test is useful for optimizing drug therapy and monitoring patient adherence. The therapeutic range is based on serum pre-dose (trough) draw at steady-state concentration. Toxic concentrations may cause anticholinergic effects, cardiac abnormalities and seizures.