Mercaptopurine
Test Mnemonic
MERCAP
CPT Codes
- G0480 - QTY (1)
- 80375 - QTY (1)
Aliases
- 6-MP, Purinethol
Performing Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Dpt of Lab Med & Pathology
FDA Category
Laboratory Developed Test
Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 mL | Serum | No additive (Red) | Refrigerated | Do not use serum separator tubes. Centrifuge and transfer to standard plastic aliquot tube. |
Alternate Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 mL | Plasma | Sodium heparin (Green) | Refrigerated |
Minimum Specimen Requirements
| Volume | Type | Container | Collect Temperature | Transport Temperature | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 mL |
Stability
| Environmental Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| Ambient | 72 hours |
| Refrigerated | 7 days |
| Frozen | 180 days |
Days Performed
Mon - Sun
Turnaround Time
6 - 10 days
Methodology
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Ultraviolet Detection (HPLC-UV) |
Reference Range
| Mercaptopurine | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex | Age From | Age To | Type | Range | Range Unit |
| Therapeutic and toxic ranges have not been established. |
Special Info
Gel tubes are unacceptable. Category: Antineoplastic
Clinical Info
Mercaptopurine may be administered as an antineoplastic or may be present as a metabolite of the immunosuppressant drug azathioprine. Therapeutic and toxic ranges have not been established. Usual therapeutic doses of either mercaptopurine or azathioprine produce 6-mercaptopurine serum concentrations of less than 1000 ng/mL.