Sign in →

Test Code DGXN Digoxin Level

Additional Codes

Cerner

NextGen

Digoxin Level

Digoxin Level

Alternate Name(s)

Lanoxin

Digitek

Useful For

Digoxin is a widely prescribed cardiac glycoside indicated in the treatment of congestive heart failure and supraventricular arrhythmias.  Digoxin measurements are used to monitor patient compliance and therapy, and to diagnose potential overdose.

Methodology

Enzymatic Heterogenous CIA, Multiple-point immuno-rate

Patient Preparation

  • Specimens should be drawn at least 6 – 8 hours, preferably 12-24 hours, after the last dose.
  • If toxicity is suspected, specimens may be drawn at any time.

Collection Instructions

Standard phlebotomy practices.

Specimen Requirements

Container

Specimen Type

Tube

Serum

 or 

 

Stability

Storage

Temperature

Stability

Room Temperature

18-28°C

≤ 8 hours

If separated within 4 hours

Refrigerated

 2-8°C

≤ 1 week

If separated within 4 hours

Frozen

≤-18 °C

≤ 4 months

If separated within 4 hours

Rejection Criteria

Gross Hemolysis

Result Reporting and Reference Values

Reported as ng/mL.

 

Low

High

Critical Low

Critical High

Therapeutic Range

0.8

2.0

N/A

2.5

Reflex Testing

None

Limitations

  • Ortho reports the following biases:
    • Gentisic Acid at 5.0 mg/dL can cause a +0.45 ng/mL bias
    • N-acetylcsteine at 90.0 mg/dL can cause a +1.11 ng/mL bias 
    • Bilirubin at 20 mg/dL can cause a +0.54 ng/mL bias
    • Hemoglobin at 300 mg/dL can cause a -0.56 ng/mL bias
    • Digoxin Immune FAB (Digibind) can interfere with immunoassay measurements
  • Ortho reports no significant effect with the following:
    • Lipemia up to 800 mg/dL
  • The following interpretive data is visible to the practitioner:
    • Digibind therapy yields invalid digoxin results. Gentisic Acid, a total bilirubin > 20 mg/dl and N-acetylcysteine create significant positive bias.