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Antibiotic Assays

Written by Clare Overton Lewis on .

Determination of serum antibiotic concentration is usually necessary in two circumstances:-

  • Where drugs of known, dose-related toxicity are used.

and

  • b) In order to monitor levels when the drug used has a narrow therapeutic range.

For aminoglycosides (gentamicin and tobramycin), efficiency is related to peak concentrations achieved, while for glycopeptides such as vancomycin, efficiency is related to the time over which therapeutic levels are maintained.

Information on performing antimicrobial assays is given below, but Medical Microbiologists are available, at all times, to discuss assays and the interpretation of results.

Antibiotic dosage in renal failure can be obtained from the appropriate Intranet site.

Antibiotic assays are performed twice a day and are processed in batches, a morning run and an afternoon run. Any bloods sent for antibiotic assays after 2pm will be processed the next day.

Assays are NOT generally available out of hours, but blood may be taken and stored on the ward to be submitted the following morning.

All of these antibiotics are stable at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

 

Protocol for taking samples for Antibiotic Assays

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