Pregabalin, Confirmation
CPT Code(s):
80366
Turnaround Time:
24 - 72 hours
Specimen Requirements
Preferred Specimen:
Urine
Minimum Volume:
1.0 mL
Transport Container:
Yellow Top Tube or Sterile Cup
Transport Temperature:
Room Temperature
Collection Instructions:
Collect urine in plastic container and transfer to plain yellow top tube (without preservative).
Rejection Criteria:
Specimen received outside stability requirements; Excessive blood, particulates, viscosity present
Stability Criteria
Room Temperature:
24 hours
Refrigerated:
7 days
Frozen:
30 days
Clinical Significance
Pregabalin with quantitative results, conducted using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS), is a clinically significant and diagnostically useful laboratory test that measures the concentration of pregabalin in a patient's blood or other biological specimens. Pregabalin is a medication commonly prescribed for the treatment of neuropathic pain, seizures, and generalized anxiety disorder.
The specific clinical significance and diagnostic use of Pregabalin include:
1. Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Pregabalin is a medication with a narrow therapeutic range, meaning that the concentration of the drug in the bloodstream needs to be carefully controlled to achieve optimal therapeutic effects while avoiding toxicity. Pregabalin allows healthcare providers to monitor the concentration of the drug in a patient's blood and ensure it falls within the desired therapeutic range. This helps to personalize the dosage regimen and adjust treatment if necessary.
2. Compliance Monitoring: Pregabalin can also be used to assess a patient's compliance with the prescribed medication regimen. By measuring the concentration of pregabalin in the blood, healthcare providers can determine if a patient is taking the medication as prescribed or if there is a deviation that may impact treatment effectiveness.
3. Pharmacokinetic Studies: Pregabalin is valuable for pharmacokinetic studies, which involve studying how the drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated by the body. By analyzing the concentration of pregabalin over time, researchers can gain insights into its pharmacokinetic profile and understand how different factors, such as age, renal function, or drug interactions, may affect its metabolism and clearance.
4. Drug Interactions: Pregabalin can interact with other medications, potentially altering its effectiveness or increasing the risk of adverse effects. Pregabalin can help identify potential drug interactions by measuring the concentration of pregabalin in the presence of other drugs. This information assists healthcare providers in making appropriate adjustments to the medication regimen or considering alternative treatment options.
5. Toxicity Monitoring: Pregabalin overdose or excessive drug accumulation can lead to toxicity, resulting in adverse effects such as dizziness, sedation, respiratory depression, and even life-threatening conditions. Pregabalin enables the detection of high concentrations of the drug, allowing healthcare providers to assess the potential for toxicity and take appropriate measures to manage the patient's condition.
In summary, Pregabalin with quantitative results using LC/MS-MS is valuable for therapeutic drug monitoring, compliance assessment, pharmacokinetic studies, detection of drug interactions, and monitoring for potential drug toxicity. It helps healthcare providers ensure that patients receive optimal doses of pregabalin, evaluate treatment adherence, understand the drug's behavior in the body, and make informed decisions about dose adjustments or alternative treatment options.