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SickKids

Amikacin, plasma or serum

Lab area
Clinical Biochemistry - TDM & Toxicology
Method and equipment
Equipment : Roche Cobas Pro c503
 
Method : Kinetic interaction of microparticles in solution (KIMS) as measured by changes in light transmission. The assay is a homogeneous immunoassay based on the principle of measuring changes in scattered light or absorbance which result when activated microparticles aggregate. The microparticles are coated with
amikacin and rapidly aggregate in the presence of an amikacin antibody solution. When a sample containing amikacin is introduced, the aggregation reaction is partially inhibited, slowing the rate of the aggregation process. Antibody bound to sample drug is no longer available to promote microparticle aggregation, and subsequent particle lattice formation is inhibited. Thus, a classic inhibition curve with respect to amikacin concentration is obtained, with the maximum rate of aggregation at the lowest amikacin concentration. By monitoring the change in scattered light or absorbance, a concentration‑dependent curve is obtained. 
Expected turn-around time
STAT: 2 hours Urgent/ Routine: 2 hours
Specimen type

Serum, Plasma (Heparin)

Specimen requirements

120 uL

Storage and transportation

 

Shipping information
The Hospital for Sick Children
Rapid Response Laboratory
555 University Avenue, Room 3642
Toronto, ON
Canada
M5G 1X8
Phone: 416-813-7200
Toll Free: 1-855-381-3212
Hours: 7 days/week, 24 hours/day
Background and clinical significance

Amikacin is indicated in the short term treatment of serious gram negative infections (Pseudomonas, Escherichia coli). It is particularly useful with those strains resistant to most other aminoglycosides of choice when gentamicin resistance is suspected.

As with other aminoglycosides, there is a narrow margin between therapeutic effectiveness and toxicity. Amikacin should be used with caution in patients with impaired renal function. 

Toxic side effects may include: ototoxicity (hearing loss), neuromuscular blockage (muscle paralysis) and nephrotoxicity.

Disease condition

Antibiotic

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