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Valproic acid

Tube Type = Dark Blue Top or Red Bullet

Tube Type

Test ID   LAB24
EPIC Order
   VALPROIC ACID LEVEL
CPT Code(s)   80164
Group/Individual Test   Individual
Laboratory   Core Laboratory
Tube Station   Routine: 30; STAT: 888
Specimen Routine: 2 mL blood/navy blue plain tube/red plain tube also acceptable; See Comments
  Micro: 300 µL blood/red plain (no gel) bullet; See Comments
Stability
Unspun: 24 hours
Spun/separated, Room Temperature: 8 hours
Spun/separated, Refrigerator: 2 days
Spun/separated, Frozen: 30 days
Availability 24 hours/day
Turnaround Time   Routine: 2 hours; STAT: 1 hour
Reference Range Therapeutic: 50-100 µg/mL (trough, steady state)
  Toxic: >200 µg/mL
Comments
  • Collection information: Use trough levels for routine monitoring
  • Collect immediately before next dose
  • Red top tubes must NOT contain Serum Separator Gel
  • Reference Range effective 4-5-2010.

Reviewed by J. Carr on January 09, 2026

UNC Hospitals
McLendon Clinical Laboratories
101 Manning Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27514