Carbamazepine, Total Test
This test measures total carbamazepine, an anticonvulsant medication, in a blood serum sample. Quest describes it as used to help monitor therapeutic levels and avoid toxicity during treatment.
About this test
Carbamazepine, sold under names such as Tegretol, is an anticonvulsant structurally related to tricyclic antidepressants, used in treating patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. Quest describes this test as measuring total carbamazepine concentration in a serum sample, reflecting the amount of the medication present in the blood.
Carbamazepine levels are monitored to help assure adequate therapeutic levels are achieved and to help avoid toxicity in patients taking this medication. Quest specifies that the sample should be collected as a trough, meaning just before the next scheduled dose, in a red-top tube, since timing relative to a dose affects how the result is read.
Test details
| Collection | Quest patient service center |
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Quest resources
Additional details
What this test looks at
The test reports one value: total carbamazepine concentration in serum. It is listed under the brand-name alias Tegretol as well as its generic name, and both refer to the same medication and the same measurement.
How it's often used alongside other tests
Because carbamazepine is monitored over the course of treatment, this test is typically one of a series of trough levels drawn at intervals rather than a single check. A clinician compares a new result with earlier ones and with how the person is responding to treatment.
This test isn't part of the Celio Health store at the moment, so it can't be ordered or requested here. The test menu lists everything that can.
Laboratory results should always be interpreted by a licensed clinician who knows your health history. This page is information about a test, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
What does this test measure?
It measures total carbamazepine concentration in a blood serum sample, using immunoassay.
How is the sample collected?
The test uses a 1 mL serum sample collected in a red-top tube.
Do I need to prepare for this test?
Quest specifies the sample should be collected as a trough, meaning just before the next scheduled dose, and preparation details appear with the test details.
Why are carbamazepine levels monitored?
Quest describes this measurement as used to help assure adequate therapeutic levels are achieved and to help avoid toxicity in patients taking carbamazepine, an anticonvulsant used in conditions such as temporal lobe epilepsy.