Monitoring serum concentration during therapy
Evaluating potential toxicity
May aid in evaluating patient compliance
Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
5-Flucytosine, Antimicrobial Assay
5-Fluorocytosine
Ancobon (Flucytosine)
Antimicrobial Assay, 5-Flucytosine
Flucytosine (Ancobon)
Fluorocytosine
Serum
Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube, 5 mL (T914)
Collection Container/Tube:
Preferred: Red top
Acceptable: Serum gel
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial
Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Serum for a peak level should be collected 1 to 2 hours after oral dose or 30 minutes after intravenous infusion. Trough specimens should be collected immediately prior to next scheduled dose.
2. Within 2 hours of collection, centrifuge, and aliquot serum to plastic vial.
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Therapeutics Test Request (T831) with the specimen.
0.3 mL
Gross hemolysis | OK |
Gross lipemia | OK |
Gross icterus | OK |
Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
---|---|---|---|
Serum | Refrigerated (preferred) | 28 days | |
Ambient | 28 days | ||
Frozen | 28 days |
Monitoring serum concentration during therapy
Evaluating potential toxicity
May aid in evaluating patient compliance
Flucytosine is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent generally used in combined therapy (often with amphotericin B) for treatment of fungal infections such as cryptococcal meningitis. Concerns with toxicity (ie, bone marrow suppression, hepatic dysfunction) and development of fungal resistance limit the use of flucytosine, particularly as a monotherapy. The drug is well-absorbed orally but can also be administered intravenously (available outside of the United States).
There is good correlation between serum concentrations of flucytosine with both efficacy and risk for toxicity. Because of the drug's short half-life (3-6 hours), therapeutic monitoring is typically performed at peak levels approximately 2 hours after an oral dose or 30 minutes after an intravenous administration.
Flucytosine is eliminated primarily as unmetabolized drug in urine. Patients with kidney dysfunction may require dose adjustments or more frequent monitoring to ensure that serum concentrations do not accumulate to excessive levels. Nephrotoxicity associated with use of amphotericin B can affect elimination of flucytosine when the drugs are coadministered.
Therapeutic concentration:
Peak >25.0 mcg/mL (difficult infections may require higher concentrations)
Toxic concentration:
Peak >100.0 mcg/mL
Most individuals display optimal response to flucytosine when peak serum levels (1-2 hours after oral dosing) are greater than 25.0 mcg/mL. Some infections may require higher concentrations for efficacy. Toxicity is more likely when peak serum concentrations are greater than 100.0 mcg/mL
This test cannot be performed on whole blood. Serum must be separated from cells within 2 hours of collection.
1. 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
2. Goodwin ML, Drew RH. Antifungal serum concentration monitoring: an update. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2008;61(1):17-25. doi:10.1093/jac/dkm389
3. 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
5-Flucytosine is extracted by mixing serum samples with an acetonitrile and methanol mixture to precipitate proteins. The supernatant is removed and analyzed by an in-house developed liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method.(Unpublished Mayo method)
Tuesday, Thursday
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.
80299
Test Id | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
FLUC | 5-Flucytosine, S | 3639-2 |
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.
|
---|---|---|
82741 | 5-Flucytosine, S | 3639-2 |