Test ID: FELBA
Felbamate (Felbatol), Serum
Secondary ID
A test code used for billing and in test definitions created prior to November 2011
NY State Approved
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.
Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful
Determining whether a poor therapeutic response is attributable to noncompliance or lack of drug effectiveness
Monitoring changes in serum concentrations resulting from interactions with coadministered drugs such as barbiturates and phenytoin
Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test
High-Turbulence Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (HTLC-MS/MS)
Reporting Name
A shorter/abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test; an abbreviated test name
Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching
Felbatol (Felbamate)
Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type needed for testing
Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen. This field describes the type of specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing. The volume allows automated processing, fastest throughput and, when indicated, repeat or reflex testing.
Container/Tube:
Preferred: Red top
Acceptable: Serum gel
Specimen Volume: 1 mL
Collection Instructions: Draw specimen immediately before next scheduled dose.
Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of specimen required to perform an assay once, including instrument and container dead space. Submitting the minimum specimen volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory or perform reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum specimen volume may result in a QNS (quantity not sufficient) result, requiring a second specimen to be collected.
Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected
| Hemolysis | Mild OK; Gross reject |
| Lipemia | Mild OK; Gross reject |
| Icterus | Mild OK; Gross reject |
| Other | NA |
Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the laboratory. Alternate acceptable temperature(s) are also included.
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Serum | Refrigerated (preferred) | 14 days |
| Ambient | 14 days | |
| Frozen | 14 days |
Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test
Felbamate is an anticonvulsant drug approved for treatment of partial seizures with or without secondary generalization in persons >14 years of age. It is also approved for Lennox-Gastout syndrome in children >2 years of age. Felbamate is well absorbed (>90%) and is metabolized by the hepatic cytochrome P450 system. Metabolites lack anticonvulsant activity. The elimination half-life of felbamate ranges from 13 to 23 hours.
Optimal response to felbamate is seen with serum concentrations between 30 mcg/mL to 60 mcg/mL. Patients who are elderly or have renal dysfunction may require reduced dosing; felbamate should not be given to individuals with hepatic disease. Toxicity can be severe, including life-threatening aplastic anemia or liver failure, but no defined toxic concentration has been established.
Coadministration of felbamate increases the concentration of phenytoin and valproic acid, decreases carbamazepine concentration, and increases carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide (its active metabolite). Conversely, coadministration of phenytoin or carbamazepine causes a decrease in felbamate concentration.
Reference Values
Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.
30.0-60.0 mcg/mL
Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results
Optimal response to felbamate is associated with serum concentrations of 30 mcg/mL to 60 mcg/mL.
Toxic serum concentrations for felbamate have not been established.
Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances
No significant cautionary statements
Clinical Reference
Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature
1. Johannessen, SI, Tomson, T: Pharmacokinetic Variability of Newer Antiepileptic Drugs: When is Monitoring Needed? Clin Pharmacokinet 2006; 45 (11): 1061-10752. Schmidt D: Felbamate: successful development of a new compound for the treatment of epilepsy. Epilepsia 1996;34(Suppl 7):S30-S33
2. Patsalos PN: Antiepileptic drugs--best practice guidelines for therapeutic drug monitoring: a position paper by the subcommission on therapeutic drug monitoring, ILAE Commission on Therapeutic Strategies. Epilepsia. 2008 Jul;49(7): 1239-1276
Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference
Samples are diluted and extracted online extraction by high turbulence liquid chromatography (HTLC), with detection by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS).
Day(s) and Time(s) Test Performed
Outlines the days and times the test is performed. This field reflects the day and time the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time required before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means assays are performed several times during the day.
Monday through Sunday
Analytic Time
Defines the amount of time it takes the laboratory to setup and perform the test. This is defined in number of days. The shortest interval of time expressed is "same day/1 day," which means the results may be available the same day that the sample is received in the testing laboratory. One day means results are available 1 day after the sample is received in the laboratory.
Maximum Laboratory Time
Defines the maximum time from specimen receipt at Mayo Medical Laboratories until the release of the test result
Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded
Performing Laboratory Location
The location of the laboratory that performs the test
Test Classification
Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer's instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR), Investigation Use Only (IUO) product, or a Research Use Only (RUO) product.
CPT Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Medical Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.
80299
LOINC® Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the result codes returned for this test or profile.
| Result ID | Reporting Name | LOINC Code |
|---|---|---|
| 80782 | Felbamate (Felbatol), S | 6899-9 |


