Test Catalog

Test Id : NOTRP

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Nortriptyline, Serum

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Overview

Test Catalog

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Monitoring nortriptyline concentration during therapy

 

Evaluating potential nortriptyline toxicity

 

May aid in evaluating patient compliance

Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test

Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

NY State Available
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.

Yes

Reporting Name
Lists a shorter or abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test

Nortriptyline, S

Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching

Aventyl

Nortriptyline, Serum

Pamelor

Sensoval

Norpress

Allegron

Nortrilen

TCA (Tricyclic Antidepressants)

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA)

Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type validated for testing

Serum Red

Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing

Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube, 5 mL (T914)

Collection Container/Tube: Red top (Serum gel/SST are not acceptable)

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Collect specimen immediately before next scheduled dose (minimum 12 hours after last dose).

2. Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial. Serum must be separated from cells within 2 hours of collection.

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Therapeutics Test Request (T831) with the specimen.

Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of sample necessary to provide a clinically relevant result as determined by the testing laboratory. The minimum volume is sufficient for one attempt at testing.

0.25 mL

Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia Reject
Gross icterus Reject

Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the performing laboratory, alternate acceptable temperatures are also included

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Red Refrigerated (preferred) 28 days
Frozen 28 days
Ambient 7 days

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Monitoring nortriptyline concentration during therapy

 

Evaluating potential nortriptyline toxicity

 

May aid in evaluating patient compliance

Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Nortriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant used for treatment of endogenous depression. It also is a metabolite of the antidepressant amitriptyline. Nortriptyline is used when its stimulatory side effect is considered to be of clinical advantage; amitriptyline is used when the side effect of mild sedation is desirable.

 

Nortriptyline is unique among the antidepressants in that its blood level exhibits the classical therapeutic window effect, as blood concentrations above or below the therapeutic window correlate with poor clinical response. Thus, therapeutic monitoring to ensure that the blood level is within the therapeutic window is critical to accomplish successful treatment with this drug.

 

Like amitriptyline, nortriptyline can cause major cardiac toxicity when the concentration is above 500 ng/mL, characterized by QRS widening (intraventricular conduction delay), which leads to ventricular tachycardia and asystole. In some patients, toxicity may manifest at lower concentrations.

Reference Values
Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

Therapeutic concentration: 70-170 ng/mL

Note: Therapeutic ranges are for specimens collected at trough (ie, immediately before next scheduled dose). Levels may be elevated in non-trough specimens.

Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

Most individuals display optimal response to nortriptyline with serum levels of 70 to 170 ng/mL. Risk of toxicity is increased with nortriptyline levels above 500 ng/mL.

 

Some individuals may respond well outside of this range or may display toxicity within the therapeutic range; thus, interpretation should include clinical evaluation.

 

Therapeutic ranges are based on specimens collected at trough (ie, immediately before the next dose).

Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

This test cannot be performed on whole blood. Serum must be separated from cells within 2 hours of collection; if serum is not removed within this time, tricyclic antidepressant levels may be falsely elevated due to drug release from red blood cells.

 

Specimens that are obtained from gel tubes are not acceptable because the drug can absorb on the gel and lead to falsely decreased concentrations.

Clinical Reference
Recommendations for in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Wille SM, Cooreman SG, Neels HM, Lambert WE. Relevant issues in the monitoring and the toxicology of antidepressants. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci. 2008;45(1):25-89

2. Thanacoody HK, Thomas SHL. Antidepressant poisoning. Clin Med (Lond). 2003;3(2):114-118

3. Hiemke C, Bergemann N, Clement HW, et al. Consensus guidelines for therapeutic drug monitoring in neuropsychopharmacology: Update 2017. Pharmacopsychiatry. 2018;51(1-01):9-62

4. Milone MC, Shaw LM. Therapeutic drugs and their management. In: Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, Burnham CAD, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2023:420-453

PDF Report
Indicates whether the report includes an additional document with charts, images or other enriched information

No

Day(s) Performed
Outlines the days the test is performed. This field reflects the day that the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means that assays are performed multiple times during the day.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Report Available
The interval of time (receipt of sample at Mayo Clinic Laboratories to results available) taking into account standard setup days and weekends. The first day is the time that it typically takes for a result to be available. The last day is the time it might take, accounting for any necessary repeated testing.

3 to 5 days

Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded

14 days

Performing Laboratory Location
Indicates the location of the laboratory that performs the test

Rochester

Fees
Several factors determine the fee charged to perform a test. Contact your U.S. or International Regional Manager for information about establishing a fee schedule or to learn more about resources to optimize test selection.

  • Authorized users can sign in to Test Prices for detailed fee information.
  • Clients without access to Test Prices can contact Customer Service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Prospective clients should contact their account representative. For assistance, contact Customer Service.

Test Classification
Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR) product.

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Clinic Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.

CPT codes are provided by the performing laboratory.

80299

LOINC® Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the order and results codes of this test. LOINC values are provided by the performing laboratory.

Test Id Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
NOTRP Nortriptyline, S 3872-9
Result Id Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
37119 Nortriptyline, S 3872-9

Test Setup Resources

Setup Files
Test setup information contains test file definition details to support order and result interfacing between Mayo Clinic Laboratories and your Laboratory Information System.

Excel | Pdf

Sample Reports
Normal and Abnormal sample reports are provided as references for report appearance.

Normal Reports | Abnormal Reports

SI Sample Reports
International System (SI) of Unit reports are provided for a limited number of tests. These reports are intended for international account use and are only available through MayoLINK accounts that have been defined to receive them.

SI Normal Reports | SI Abnormal Reports