Test Entry - Detail

Plasma 5-Fluorouracil

General

Clinical Use:

Measurement of a single steady state plasma 5-FU concentration in patients on IV 5-FU infusions <120 hours duration, enables calculation and reporting of 5-FU AUC (Area under the curve).
Note to requesting doctors: Please complete ALL mandatory fields in "clinical notes" section of request form, including intended duration of the infusion, otherwise 5-FU AUC CANNOT be calculated and reported.
Plasma 5FU AUC TDM will assist oncologists in dosage decisions regarding IV 5FU therapy; aiming to assess adequacy of exposure and reduce risk of toxicity with this chemotherapeutic agent commonly used to treat various cancers.
5-FU TDM is NOT applicable to capecitabine therapy.
Test is NOT CPOE orderable.
Request restricted to Medical Oncology clinicians; specific template request form must be completed.
Currently only available for collection at PathWest SCGH, FSH and Rockingham Monday to Friday before 3pm.
Patients attending other collection centres or outside these times should be directed to return for collection at PathWest SCGH, FSH and Rockingham Monday to Friday before 3pm.
Samples collected at private pathology provider collection centres will NOT be accepted due to the stringent pre-analytical handling requirements of these samples.

Availability:

Samples are batched and tested twice a week.

Aliases/Synonyms:

5-Fluorouracil TDM, 5-Fluorouracil Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, 5-FU, 5-FU AUC,

Code:

5FU

Handling Instructions (to laboratory):

COLLECT ON ICE and hand deliver to laboratory immediately.
Give specimen directly to CSRA supervisor.

Hyperlink:

Reference Interval:

No reference range for isolated plasma 5-FU concentration.

5-FU Area Under the Curve (AUC): 20-30 mg*hr/L.

Recommended exposure target range NOT applicable to 5-FU bolus administration OR 5-FU infusions of 120 hours and longer duration.

Collection Requirements

Container:

Lithium Heparin, No Gel (DKGNLITH),

Sample Type:

See container

Minimum Collection Volume:

2mL

Collection Instructions:

Sample must be collected while the 5-FU infusion is running.
TAKE FROM PERIPHERAL VEIN, preferably on opposite side to 5-FU infusion, at least 18 hours since commencement of infusion, and BEFORE final 2 hours of intended END of infusion.
Call CSRA supervisor at time of collection (Site specific contact number will appear as a pop-up at time of registration).

Processing Requirements

Alternate Containers:

Processing Instructions:

Sample must be processed immediately upon arrival in laboratory.
Centrifuge in a refrigerated centrifuge, separate all plasma into 2 aliquots and freeze at -20C within 1 hour of collection.
CSRA staff to complete time of receipt, confirm whether sample was received on ice and time of separation and freezing on request form in CSRA Laboratory use only section of the form.
DO NOT CANCEL TEST UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. PROCESS ALL SAMPLES - IF SPECIMEN FAILS TO MEET COLLECTION CRITERIA CONTACT QEII SPECIAL CHEMISTRY STAFF.

Minimum Assay Volume:

500ul

Stability:

1 hour on ice

Transport Instructions (to testing laboratory):

Send separated sample frozen on dry ice.

Testing Locations

Performed at:

Section	Department	Site	Contact Phone
Special Chemistry	Biochemistry	QEII Medical Centre	6383 4114

Last Updated : 07-11-2025 12:15