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Department

Toxicology

Preferred Sample Type

Fentanyl

Suitable Specimen Types

  • Serum
  • EDTA Plasma
  • Li Hep Plasma
A minimum of 500 µl of plasma/serum is required.

Specimen Transport

First class post

Sample Processing in Laboratory

Place sample in toxicology rack.

Sample Preparation

None required

Turnaround Time

3 days.

Sample Stability

Keep refrigerated. 4 degrees.

Fentanyl

General Information

Fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora, Ionsys, Matrifen, Sublimaze) is a synthetic narcotic analgesic of high potency and short duration of action. It is closely related to methylfentanyl, a street drug, and to alfenanil and sufentanil, which are marketed as narcotic analgesics. Fentanyl has been in clinical use in an injectable form since 1963 as an adjunct to surgical anesthesia, often in combination with nitrous oxide or droperidol. Both passive and patient controlled transdermal patches are also available that contain 2.5 – 10 mg fentanyl and provide a dose of 25 – 100 g/hr for 72 hours for management of chronic pain. Oral transmucosal doasge is also available for treatment of breakthrough cancer pain.

Fentanyl is capable of producing severe respiratory depression, muscle rigidity, seizures, coma and hypotension.

Patient Preparation

No patient preperation required.

Notes

 Fentanyl measured by LC-MS/MS.

Reference Range

Serum fentanyl concentrations attain a range of 0.3 – 1.2 µg/L within 24 hours after application of a 25 µg/hr transdermal patch with serum levels inceasing up to 3.8 µg/L with use of a 100 µg/hr patch. (Baselt, Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemicals in Man, Eighth Edition, 2008). 

Specifications

  • EQA Scheme?: Yes
  • EQA Status: LGC QUARTZ, LGC CLIN TOX