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Department

Toxicology

Preferred Sample Type

Ketamine

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.

Ketamine

General Information

Ketamine is a weakly basic amino compound which is used as an anesthetic induction agent. It is structurally and pharmacologically related to phenylcyclidine (PCP), a drug which failed clinical trials due to its unpleasant side effects during anaesthetic recovery but became a popular street drug. Ketamine has also received attention as a drug of abuse.

Adverse reactions to ketamine include hallucinations, delerium, irrational behavior, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, respiratory stimulation or depression, tachycardia or bradycardia, hypertension or hypotension, seizures and cardiac arrhythmia. 

Please note, this assay is for the quantitative determination of ketamine in blood. Ketamine use may also be detected via our urinary Drugs of Abuse Screen by LC-MS/MS.

Patient Preparation

No patient preperation required.

Notes

Ketamine is measured by HPLC-DAD.

Please note this assay is not currently UKAS accredited

Reference Range

Therapeutic use of ketamine (i.v) for sedation is effective at average concentrations >0.6 mg/L. (Clarke's Analysis of Drugs & Poisons, Third Edition)

Specifications

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