Decoding Vancomycin Trough Levels: A Clinical Perspective

Vancomycin trough levels are typically collected using a lavender-top (or purple-top) tube. The lavender-top tube contains the anticoagulant ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), which helps prevent blood clotting and preserves the blood sample for laboratory analysis.

Healthcare providers collect a blood sample in this tube just before the next scheduled vancomycin dose to measure the trough level. Monitoring vancomycin trough levels helps ensure that the drug concentration remains within the therapeutic range to effectively treat bacterial infections while minimizing the risk of toxicity. The specific protocols for collecting and analyzing vancomycin trough levels may vary among healthcare institutions, so it's essential to follow established guidelines and procedures.

Vancomycin trough levels are typically collected in a red-top tube (no gel) .

A vancomycin trough level is a blood test that measures the amount of vancomycin in your blood after you have taken the medication for at least 24 hours. Vancomycin is a type of antibiotic that is used to treat serious infections.

Trough levels are important because they help to ensure that you are getting enough vancomycin to fight the infection, but not so much that it causes side effects. Vancomycin can be toxic if the levels in the blood are too high.

To collect a vancomycin trough level, the nurse will draw a small amount of blood from your arm. The blood will be sent to a laboratory for testing.

The results of your vancomycin trough level test will be available within a few days. Your doctor will review the results and make sure that your vancomycin dose is correct.

Here are some additional tips for collecting a vancomycin trough level:

• Have the blood drawn at the same time each day.
• Avoid drawing the blood within 30 minutes of taking vancomycin.
• Tell the nurse if you are taking any other medications, as they may affect the results of the test.