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Orderable Name DEXA Dexamethasone, Serum

Additional Codes

CNE Order Code: Dexameth


Ordering Guidance


To detect the metabolite of fluticasone or Flonase, order 17BFP / Fluticasone 17-Beta-Carboxylic Acid, Random, Urine.

 

For synthetic glucocorticoid analyte screen, order SGSS / Synthetic Glucocorticoid Screen, Serum.



Specimen Required


Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Red top

Acceptable: Serum gel

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 2 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Draw blood between 7:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. the morning following an evening dose.

2. Centrifuge and aliquot serum into plastic vial within one hour of collection and freeze immediately.


Useful For

Confirming the presence of dexamethasone in serum

 

Confirming the cause of secondary adrenal insufficiency

 

This test is not useful as the sole basis for a diagnosis or treatment decisions.

Method Name

Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Specimen Type

Serum

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.6 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Frozen (preferred) 28 days
  Refrigerated  7 days
  Ambient  72 hours

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis OK
Gross lipemia OK
Gross icterus OK

Reference Values

Baseline: <30 ng/dL

8:00 a.m. following 1 mg Dexamethasone, previous evening: >100 ng/dL

8:00 a.m. following 8 mg Dexamethasone, (4 x 2 mg doses) previous day: >800 ng/dL

Day(s) Performed

Tuesday, Thursday

Report Available

2 to 6 days

CPT Code Information

80299

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Therapeutics Test Request (T831) with the specimen.