Department

Toxicology

Preferred Sample Type

Levetiracetam (Keppra)

Suitable Specimen Types

  • Serum
  • EDTA Plasma
  • Li Hep Plasma
50 ul of plasma or serum.

Sample Processing in Laboratory

Centrifuge and place in toxicology box in cold room.

Sample Preparation

Usual

Turnaround Time

5 working days

Sample Stability

4 ºC

Levetiracetam (Keppra)

General Information

Levetiracetam (Keppra) is an adjunct therapy in the treatment of partial seizures in adults. Its mechanism of action is unknown; it does not act on sodium gated channels, or on GABA or glutamate receptors.  

Patient Preparation

Samples for analysis should be taken pre-dose (trough levels).

 

Notes

Analysed by GC-MS

Reference Range

There is no evidence to justify monitoring of Levetiracetam other than to assess adherence, though a range of 6 – 20 mg/L has been suggested. Renal excretion means that the plasma half-life is longer in the elderly. Dose reduction is necessary at GFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2.

Date Record Created

Friday, 24 July 2015

Date last updated

Friday, 24 July 2015

Review Date

Monday, 30 November -0001

Location of Laboratories

Patient Information

General Information

The laboratories at Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital and Solihull Hospital form part of the services provided by University Hospitals Birmingham and are UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accredited to the ISO 15189:2012 standard. For a list of accredited tests and other information please visit the UKAS website using the following link: https://www.ukas.com/find-an-organisation/

  • Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull Hospital pathology laboratories are a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No.8217
  • United Kingdom Health Security Agency laboratory is a UKAS accredited medical laboratory No.8213

Tests not appearing on the UKAS Schedule of Accreditation currently remain outside of our scope of accreditation. However, these tests have been validated to the same high standard as accredited tests and are performed by the same trained and competent staff.

For further test information, please visit the test database: http://www.heftpathology.com/frontpage/test-database.html.

Protection of personal information - Laboratory Medicine comply with the Trust Data Protection policy and have procedures in place to allow the Directorate and its employees to comply with the Data Protection act  1998 and associated best practice and guidance.

For further information contact Louise Fallon, Quality Manager, 0121 424 1235

UKAS HEFT