Specimen Required

Container/Tube:
Preferred: Lithium Heparin (Mint)
Acceptable: Serum gel, Tiger top, Red top
Specimen Volume: 1.0 mL
 

Collection Instructions:

For patients on a regimen of divided daily tobramycin doses, collect a peak sample 30–60 minutes after intravenous infusion or 60–90 minutes after intramuscular injection and collect a trough sample just before the next scheduled dose.1–3 When adjusting dosage, measure peak and trough levels during the same dosing interval.

For patients on a single daily dosage regimen, either collect a trough sample 3–5 hours before the next scheduled dose or, if using a published nomogram to determine the proper dosing interval, collect a sample 7–14 hours after dosing.

Plasma gel tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection. 4 hours is acceptable.
Serum gel tubes should be fully clotted and centrifuged within 2 hours of collection. 4 hours is acceptable.
Red-top tubes should be fully clotted, centrifuged and aliquoted within 2 hours of collection.4 hours is acceptable.