Caffeine

Test ID: 

703577

CPT code:

80155

Synonyms:

Cafcit®
Energets
No Doz® Maximum Strength
Vivarin®

Clinical Use:

Monitor caffeine concentration in newborns receiving theophylline or caffeine.
Half-life elimination: Neonates 72 to 96 hours, Children >9 months and Adults: 5 hours
Time to peak serum, oral: Within 30 minutes to 2 hours

Additional Test Information:

Theophylline is used to treat neonatal apnea. Unlike its metabolism in adults, theophylline in neonates is extensively metabolized to caffeine. Plasma elimination half-life in adults is three to six hours. In neonates, caffeine has a half-life of 30 hours. Caffeine overdoses are rare. The clinical presentation is similar to that of theophylline.

Specimen Type:

Serum or plasma

Requested Volume: 

1 mL

Minimum Volume: 

0.3 mL

Container Type: 

Red-top tube, lavender-top (EDTA) tube, or green-top (heparin) tube. Do not use a gel-barrier tube. The use of gel-barrier tubes is not recommended due to slow absorption of the drug by the gel. Depending on the specimen volume and storage time, the decrease in drug level due to absorption may be clinically significant.

Collection:

Transfer separated serum or plasma to a plastic transport tube.

Storage Instructions:

Room temperature,
Stability Requirements
Temperature Period
Room temperature 14 days
Refrigerated 14 days
Frozen 14 days
Freeze/thaw cycles Stable x3

Rejection Criteria

Gel-barrier tube