Gentamicin

Department

Core Biochemistry

Delphic Registration Code

GENT

Turnaround Time

3 hours

Test Code

4705

Specimen Type

• Serum
• Plasma

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

• Lithium Heparin - Non-gel (Green Cap)

Preferred if West Coast

• Lithium Heparin - Gel (Light Green Cap)

Acceptable

• Serum (Red Cap)
• SST II (Gold Cap)
• Lithium Heparin - Gel (Light Green Cap)

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

4.5

No of Samples Required

1

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

• Lithium Heparin - Non-gel (Green Cap)

Additional Specimen Information

Specimen Collection Protocols:
Trough Level; 6-20 hours, depending on dose and renal function
Peak Level; draw 30 minutes after end of IV infusion.
Give dose details, dose time, dose interval, collection time and time over which infusion is give.

Paediatric Specimen 600 uL lithium heparin microtainer

Aliquot Instructions

Sample Type

• Serum
• Plasma

Transport to Lab

Chilled (2 - 8 degrees Celsius)
If overnight - Chilled (2 - 8 degrees Celsius)

Additional Referral/Aliquot Information

Samples stable up to 7 days fridge, otherwise frozen for 14 days.

Interpretation

Once daily dosing is recommended using a target area under the concentration (AUC) curve. Contact the Ward Pharmicist, or the Drug Information Service (03 3640900) for dose adjustment.

Aminoglycoside clearance is reduced with renal impairement.

Reference Intervals

Trough: <0.5 mg/L

AUC: 70-100 mg/L/hr

Test Method

Homogenous competition based immunoassay performed on the Beckman Coulter AU5822 analyser using Beckman Coulter reagents.

Non-Funded Test Cost

$23.74 (Exclusive of GST)

Billing Code

4705

Samples containing Carbenicillin or piperacillin should be stored frozen if a delay in analysis of more than 8 hours is anticipated to avoid falsely low gentamicin results due to in vitro inactivation.

Contact Information

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