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Test Code DGXN Digoxin Level

Additional Codes

Cerner

NextGen

Digoxin Level

Digoxin Level

Alternate Name(s)

Lanoxin

Digitek

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.

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.