Test Catalog

Test Id : HALO

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Haloperidol, Serum

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Overview

Test Catalog

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Optimizing haloperidol dosage

 

Monitoring patient compliance

 

Assessing toxicity

Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test

Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

NY State Available
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.

Yes

Reporting Name
Lists a shorter or abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test

Haloperidol, S

Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching

Haldol (Haloperidol)

HALO

Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type validated for testing

Serum Red

Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing

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:

1. Draw blood immediately before next scheduled dose.

2. Within 2 hours of collection, centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Therapeutics Test Request (T831) with the specimen.

Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of sample necessary to provide a clinically relevant result as determined by the testing laboratory. The minimum volume is sufficient for one attempt at testing.

0.5 mL

Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected

Gross hemolysis OK
Gross lipemia OK
Gross icterus OK

Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the performing laboratory, alternate acceptable temperatures are also included

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Red Refrigerated (preferred) 28 days
Ambient 28 days
Frozen 28 days

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Optimizing haloperidol dosage

 

Monitoring patient compliance

 

Assessing toxicity

Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Haloperidol (Haldol) is a member of the butyrophenone class of neuroleptic drugs used to treat psychotic disorders (eg, schizophrenia). It is also used to control the tics and verbal utterances associated with Tourette syndrome and in the management of intensely hyperexcitable children who fail to respond to other treatment modalities.

 

The daily recommended oral dose for patients with moderate symptoms is 0.5 to 2.0 mg; for patients with severe symptoms, 3 to 5 mg may be used. However, some patients will respond only at significantly higher doses.

 

Haloperidol is metabolized in the liver to reduced haloperidol, its major metabolite.(1,2)

 

Use of haloperidol is associated with significant toxic side effects, the most serious of which include tardive dyskinesia, which can be irreversible, extrapyramidal reactions with Parkinson-like symptoms, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Less serious side effects can include hypotension, anticholinergic effects (blurred vision, dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention), and sedation. The risk of developing serious, irreversible side effects seems to increase with increasing cumulative doses over time.(1,3)

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.

Haloperidol:

5-17 ng/mL

 

Reduced Haloperidol:

10-80 ng/mL

Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

Studies show a strong relationship between dose and serum concentration(4); however, there is a modest relationship of clinical response or risk of developing long-term side effects to either dose or serum concentration.

 

A therapeutic window exists for haloperidol, but some patients may respond to concentrations outside of this range. Patients who respond at serum concentrations between 5 ng/mL and 17 ng/mL show no additional improvement at concentrations between 18 ng/mL and 20 ng/mL.(3,5) Some patients may respond at concentrations less than 5 ng/mL, and others may require concentrations significantly greater than 20 ng/mL before an adequate response is attained.

 

Due to interindividual variation, the serum concentration should only be used as one factor in determining the appropriate dose and must be interpreted in conjunction with the clinical status.

 

Although the metabolite, reduced haloperidol, has minimal pharmacologic activity, evidence has been presented suggesting that an elevated ratio of reduced haloperidol-to-haloperidol (ie, >5) is predictive of a poor clinical response.(3,6) A reduced haloperidol-to-haloperidol ratio of less than 0.5 indicates noncompliance; the metabolite does not accumulate except during steady-state conditions.

Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

Potentially interfering drugs include hydroxyzine (interferes with haloperidol), tiagabine (interferes with reduced haloperidol), and quetiapine (interferes with internal standard resulting in artificially low haloperidol).

Clinical Reference
Recommendations for in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Lawson GM. Monitoring of serum haloperidol. Mayo Clin Proc. 1994;69(2):189-190

2. Ereshefsky L, Davis CM, Harrington CA, et al. Haloperidol and reduced haloperidol plasma levels in selected schizophrenic patients. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1984;4(3):138-142

3. Volavka J, Cooper TB. Review of haloperidol blood level and clinical response: looking through the window. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1987;7(1):25-30

4. Moulin MA, Davy JP, Debruyne D, et al. Serum level monitoring and therapeutic effect of haloperidol in schizophrenic patients. Psychopharmacology. 1982;76(4):346-350

5. van Putten T, Marder SR, Mintz J, Polant RE. Haloperidol plasma levels and clinical response: a therapeutic window relationship. Am J Psychiatry. 1992;149 (4):500-505

6. Shostak M, Perel JM, Stiller RL, Wyman W, Curran S. Plasma haloperidol and clinical response: a role for reduced haloperidol in antipsychotic activity? J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1987;7(6):394-400

7. Hiemke C, Bergemann N, Clement HW, et al. Consensus guidelines for therapeutic drug monitoring in neuropsychopharmacology: Update 2017. Pharmacopsychiatry. 2018;51(1-02):9-62. doi:10.1055/s-0043-116492

8. 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

Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference

Haloperidol and reduced haloperidol, its major metabolite, are extracted from serum utilizing protein precipitation and diluted by the addition of internal standard (haloperidol-d4 and reduced haloperidol-d4). Analysis of the supernate is performed on a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry system.(Unpublished Mayo method)

PDF Report
Indicates whether the report includes an additional document with charts, images or other enriched information

No

Day(s) Performed
Outlines the days the test is performed. This field reflects the day that the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means that assays are performed multiple times during the day.

Tuesday

Report Available
The interval of time (receipt of sample at Mayo Clinic Laboratories to results available) taking into account standard setup days and weekends. The first day is the time that it typically takes for a result to be available. The last day is the time it might take, accounting for any necessary repeated testing.

2 to 8 days

Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded

14 days

Performing Laboratory Location
Indicates the location of the laboratory that performs the test

Rochester

Fees :
Several factors determine the fee charged to perform a test. Contact your U.S. or International Regional Manager for information about establishing a fee schedule or to learn more about resources to optimize test selection.

  • Authorized users can sign in to Test Prices for detailed fee information.
  • Clients without access to Test Prices can contact Customer Service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Prospective clients should contact their account representative. For assistance, contact Customer Service.

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 instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR) product.

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
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Clinic Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.

CPT codes are provided by the performing laboratory.

80173

LOINC® Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the order and results codes of this test. LOINC values are provided by the performing laboratory.

Test Id Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
HALO Haloperidol, S 87550-0
Result Id Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
80339 Haloperidol, S 3669-9
169 Reduced Haloperidol 38364-6

Test Setup Resources

Setup Files
Test setup information contains test file definition details to support order and result interfacing between Mayo Clinic Laboratories and your Laboratory Information System.

Excel | Pdf

Sample Reports
Normal and Abnormal sample reports are provided as references for report appearance.

Normal Reports | Abnormal Reports

SI Sample Reports
International System (SI) of Unit reports are provided for a limited number of tests. These reports are intended for international account use and are only available through MayoLINK accounts that have been defined to receive them.

SI Normal Reports | SI Abnormal Reports

Test Update Resources

Change Type Effective Date
Test Changes - Specimen Information 2024-10-24