Clotted blood tube (Serum gel separator clot activator tube)

Minimum blood volume: 6 mL

Paediatric clotted blood tube

Number of vials: 1

Minimum blood volume: 0.8 mL

See result interpretation section.

Assessment of overdose.

A 'Negative' result indicates that the sample does not contain TCA or TCA concentration is < 300 µg/L.

A 'Positive' result may indicate TCA overdose. It should be interpreted with patient’s electrocardiogram findings, e.g. sinus tachycardia and intraventricular conduction delay leading to prolongation of the QRS complex and the PR/QT intervals.

Remarks:

The tricyclic anti-depressants assay is primarily for the detection of the four major TCA, amitriptyline, nortriptyline, imipramine and desipramine. Other structurally similar TCA will also contribute to the serum concentration. Applicability of the assay to other TCA must be interpreted based upon their relative cross-reactivities.

This test may also give positive results in samples containing high concentrations of chlorpromazine, cyclobenzaprine, thioridazine, diphenhydramine, orphenadrine citrate and cyproheptadine.

(Source:

1. Manufacturer's kit insert.
2. Kerr G, McGuffie A, Wilkie S (2001). Tricyclic antidepressant overdose: a review, Emerg Med J 18 (4): 236 – 41.)