Rifampicin (Blood)

Testing Laboratory

Auckland Te Toka Tumai | Auckland Hospital

Department

Chemical Pathology

Delphic Registration Code (Alpha Code)

RIFG

Test Code (Numeric Code)

3058

Laboratory Handling

Transport

Separated, light protected, frozen

Separating

Separate, light protect and freeze at -20°C within 7 hours of collection

Laboratory

LabPLUS High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Sample Stability

Up to 7 hours at ambient

Synonyms

Rifampicin, Rifadin

Turnaround Time

1 week

Performed Weekly

Specimen Type

• Serum

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

• Plain (Red Top)

Acceptable

• Lithium Heparin - Non-gel (Green Cap)

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

4

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

• Plain (Red Top)

Additional Specimen Information

Tubes containing gel (SST and PST) are NOT acceptable

In suboptimum conditions Rifampicin will continue to degrade at a rate estimated to be 10-15% at 12 hours and around 20-30% by 24 hours post collection. Protecting the specimen from light does not necessarily reduce this slow rate of degradation.

It can be further stabilised by adding 5mg ascorbic acid to the specimen.

Aliquot Instructions

Sample Type

• Serum

Transport to Lab

Frozen

Additional Referral/Aliquot Information

While light protection is preferred, the sample can be transported as whole blood at room temperature and without light protection provided it can be separated, light protected and stored frozen at the receiving laboratory within 7 hours from time of collection. Mark as urgent.

If sample will be delayed, it should be separated, light protected, stored frozen and transported on ice.

It can be further stabilised by adding 5mg ascorbic acid to the specimen.

Test Method

High performance liquid chromatography

Uncertainty of Measurement

16%

References (For Diagnostic Use and Interpretation):

1. Philip O Anderson. Handbook of clinical drug data 10th edition (2001) McGraw-Hill Professional.
2. Ray J et al. Managing antituberculosis drug therapy by therapeutic drug monitoring of rifampicin and isoniazid. Int Med J 2003; 33(5-6): 229-234.
3. Peloquin CA. Therapeutic drug monitoring in the treatment of tuberculosis   Drugs 2002; 62(15): 2169-2183.
4. Peloquin CA. Rifampin stability. Therapeutic Drug Mon 1998; 20(4): 450-1.
5. Le Guellec. Stability of rifampin in plasma: consequences for therapeutic monitoring and pharmacokinetic studies Therapeutic Drug Mon 1997; 19(6): 669-674
6. Maze MJ et al. Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Isoniazid and Rifampicin during anti-tuberculosis treatment in Auckland, New Zealand. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2016; 20(7): 955-960

Contact Information