Dexamethasone Drug level
Label Mnemonic: DEXA
Epic code: LAB2995
Downtime form: A-1a Doctor/Provider Orders - Pathology Core and Specialty Care Nursery
Commercial Mailout Laboratory
6240-8 RCP
356-8593
Specimen(s):
Serum
Specimen Instructions:
Specimen should be collected between 8-10 a.m.
Collection Medium:
Red top tube 5 mL (Clot Activator)
Minimum:
Preferred Minimum: 1 mL serum from red top tube
Absolute Minimum: 0.5 mL serum from red top tube
Rejection Criteria:
Room temperature specimens
Turn Around Time:
1-8 days upon receipt at reference laboratory
Reference Range:
Adults baseline: Less than 50 ng/dL

8:00 AM draw following 1 mg dexamethasone between 11:00 pm and 12:00 am the previous evening: 140-295 ng/dL

8:00 AM draw following 8 mg dexamethasone (4x2 mg doses) between 11:00 pm and 12:00 am the previous evening: 1600-2850 ng/dL
Methodology:
Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry
CPT Code:
80375