Specimen Collection

2.7 mL Adult Citrate Blood

or

1.8 mL Citrate Blood

If the specimen is collected from outside Auckland Hospital: send a minimum of 0.5 ml plasma aliquot.

Reference Intervals

Uncertainty of Measurement:

16%

Turnaround Time: 2 hours

• Within 2 hours from arrival in the laboratory for inpatient samples.
• Within 24 hours from arrival in the laboratory for samples from laboratories outside of Auckland Hospital.

Assay Method

Prior to 29/11/16 results were reported as ug/ml.

Diagnostic Use and Interpretation

• There is no established therapeutic range for Dabigatran (Pradaxa).
• Published data (PETRO study) based on 150 mg bid dosage showed mean peak levels of 180 ng/mL and mean trough levels of 90 ng/mL, however the range is very wide.
• Plasma Dabigatran concentration drops after dose administration and the assay result has to be interpreted in the context of the timing of the last dose.
• Note that routine monitoring of Dabigatran therapy is not recommended.
• The Dilute Thrombin Clotting Time (DTCT) is a very sensitive screening test for Dabigatran, even very low levels of Dabigatran will prolong the DTCT. All patients on a BD therapeutic dose of Dabigatran should have a DTCT of greater than 80 seconds. The DTCT will only return to normal (15 - 20 seconds) when Dabigatran has been totally cleared.
  

Contact Information

For further information contact the Haematology laboratory (Ext 22067) or:

Dr Nicola Eaddy	Ext 22005
Dr Peter Bradbeer	Ext 22062
Dr Anna Ruskova	Ext 22137
Dr Nikhil Rabade	Ext 22071

Last updated at 13:09:28 11/09/2024