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HelpTest ID: ITCON Itraconazole, Serum
Reporting Name
Itraconazole, SUseful For
Verifying systemic absorption of orally administered itraconazole
Patients with life-threatening fungal infections
Patients considered at risk for poor absorption or rapid clearance of itraconazole
Specimen Type
Serum RedSpecimen Required
Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube, 5 mL (T914)
Collection Container/Tube: Red top (serum gel/SST are not acceptable)
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial
Specimen Volume: 1 mL
Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial within 2 hours of collection.
Specimen Minimum Volume
0.18 mL
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serum Red | Refrigerated (preferred) | 29 days | |
| Ambient | 29 days | ||
| Frozen | 29 days |
Reference Values
ITRACONAZOLE (TROUGH):
>0.5 mcg/mL (localized infection)
>1 mcg/mL (systemic infection)
HYDROXYITRACONAZOLE:
No therapeutic range established; activity and serum concentration are similar to parent drug.
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Friday; Saturday
Test Classification
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.CPT Code Information
80189
LOINC Code Information
| Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| ITCON | Itraconazole, S | 10989-2 |
| Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| 81247 | Itraconazole, S | 10989-2 |
| 5122 | Hydroxyitraconazole | 18337-6 |
Clinical Information
Itraconazole is a synthetic triazole antifungal drug approved for treatment and prophylaxis of a variety of fungal infections. Its activity results from inhibition of fungal synthesis of ergosterol, an integral component of fungal cell membranes.
Concerns about adequate absorption and drug interactions are some of the major indications for therapeutic drug monitoring. Mean oral bioavailability approximates 55% but is highly variable; absorption can be enhanced by food or acidic drinks. Hepatic enzyme inducers can cause low serum itraconazole levels, and coadministration of these drugs has been associated with itraconazole therapeutic failure.
Itraconazole therapeutic efficacy is greatest when serum concentrations exceed 0.5 mcg/mL for localized infections or 1.0 mcg/mL for systemic infections. An active metabolite, hydroxyitraconazole, is present in serum at roughly twice the level of the parent drug. These concentrations refer to analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography; quantitation by bioassay generates considerably higher apparent drug measurements due to reactivity with the active metabolite.
Interpretation
A lower cutoff concentration has not been defined that applies in all cases. The serum concentration must be interpreted in association with other variables, such as the nature of the infection, the specific microorganism, and minimal inhibitory concentration results, if available. Localized infections are more likely to respond when serum itraconazole is more than 0.5 mcg/mL (by high-performance liquid chromatography); systemic infections generally require drug concentrations more than 1.0 mcg/mL. Consider target of more than 1.5 mcg/mL for itraconazole plus hydroxyitraconazole. Therapeutic drug monitoring should be done at steady state, which usually occurs in about 7 days. Timing of the serum collection is not as critical due to the drug's long half-life, but trough collections are recommended.
Clinical Reference
1. Andes D, Pascual A, Marchetti O. Antifungal therapeutic drug monitoring: established and emerging indications. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2009;53(1):24-34. doi:10.1128/AAC.00705-08
2. Hope WW, Billaud EM, Lestner J, Denning DW. Therapeutic drug monitoring for triazoles. Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2008;21(6):580-586. doi:10.1097/QCO.0b013e3283184611
3. Milone MC, Shaw LM. Therapeutic drugs and their management. In: Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, Burnham CAD, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2023:420-453
Report Available
1 to 3 daysMethod Name
Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Forms
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Therapeutics Test Request (T831) with the specimen.
| mml-antifungals, mml-drugmonitoring |