Clinical background:
Thiopentone is a short acting barbiturate anaesthetic. It is given intravenously, usually for the induction of general anaesthesia, but may be used as the sole anaesthetic to maintain anaesthesia for short procedures with minimal painful stimuli. It is also used in anaesthesia as a supplement to other anaesthetics, as a hypnotic in balanced anaesthesia.
Specimen container paediatric:
EDTA plasmaSerum may be used but not from gel SST tube
Specimen container adult:
EDTA plasmaSerum may be used but not from gel SST tube
Minimum volume paediatric:
2 mL
Minimum volume adult:
2 mL
Special requirements:
Contact the lab before sending a sample.
Sample stability:
All samples must arrive in the laboratory within 12 hours of venepuncture.
If this cannot be achieved, then the samples must be centrifuged and the plasma stored and then transported frozen.
Other Info:
Referral Laboratory: Specialist Biochemistry, 1st Floor CSB3, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL