Understanding Your Diagnostic Test: A Complete Patient Guide to Testing, Results, and What to Expect
This test measures the amount of acetyldigitoxin, a heart medication, in your blood to ensure you are receiving a safe and effective dose.
{"Measures acetyldigitoxin concentration in serum or plasma","Helps doctors ensure the drug dose is both effective and safe","Used for patients taking acetyldigitoxin to treat heart failure or arrhythmias","Blood sample is drawn from a vein in your arm","Results help prevent drug toxicity or adjust dosing as needed"}
Key facts at a glance
- LOINC
- 3304-3
- Short code
- ACD
- Synonyms
- Acetyldigitoxin SerPl-mCnc
- Category
- chemistry
- Sample
- serum
- Container
- Serum separator tube (SST) or plain red top tube
- Units
- N/A
- Ref low
- 10
- Ref high
- 30
- Critical range
- — – 40 N/A
- Fasting
- false
- Population
- adult
- Sex
- all
- Age range
- ≥ 18 years
- Method
- Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) or High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
- CPT
- 80162 (Digoxin; therapeutic drug assay)
- SNOMED
- 313335006
- Specimen volume
- 1-2 mL serum minimum
- Stability
- Room temperature: 24 hours; Refrigerated (2-8°C): 7 days; Frozen (-20°C or below): 30 days. Protect from light.
- Hemolysis max
- 50
- Lipemia max
- 300
- Icterus max
- 20
- TAT
- 24–72 hours
- Order
- routine
This test is a laboratory or diagnostic procedure that helps your doctor evaluate how well your body is functioning. By measuring specific substances or examining a sample, it provides important information about your overall health and helps identify conditions that may need further attention or treatment.
The acetyldigitoxin blood level test measures how much of this heart medication is present in your blood. Acetyldigitoxin is a type of cardiac glycoside that helps the heart beat stronger and more regularly. This test is also known by its LOINC code 3304-3 and is performed on a sample of your serum or plasma.
Your doctor may order this test to check for signs of illness, confirm a suspected diagnosis, monitor an existing condition, or see how well a treatment is working. It can also be part of a routine checkup to catch potential problems early, before symptoms appear, so you and your care team can act quickly.
Your doctor may order this test to: (1) Make sure you are taking the right amount of acetyldigitoxin for your condition, (2) Check if the medication is reaching therapeutic (effective) levels in your blood, (3) Prevent acetyldigitoxin toxicity, which can cause serious side effects like nausea, irregular heartbeat, or vision problems, and (4) Adjust your dose if needed based on how your body responds to the medication.
The procedure depends on the type of test ordered. Most tests involve drawing a small sample of blood from a vein in your arm, collecting a urine sample, or taking a gentle swab. A trained technician performs this in a clinic or lab, and the sample is then analyzed. The process is usually quick and straightforward.
A healthcare professional will draw a small blood sample from a vein in your arm using a needle. The sample will be sent to a laboratory for analysis. The test requires a serum or plasma sample, which is obtained by processing your blood in a centrifuge. The procedure typically takes only a few minutes.
This test is generally very safe. If your blood is drawn, you may feel a brief sting or pinch, and mild bruising or soreness at the needle site can occur. Serious complications are rare. Tell your doctor if you have a bleeding disorder, take blood thinners, or have had reactions to blood draws in the past.
The risks associated with this test are minimal and similar to any standard blood draw. You may experience slight pain or bruising at the needle site, and in rare cases, fainting or infection may occur. These risks are generally temporary and resolve quickly.
Reference range
Therapeutic range: 10-30 ng/mL (trough levels). Toxic level: >35 ng/mL. Reference ranges may vary by laboratory methodology.N/A
No fasting required. Collect trough specimen immediately before next scheduled dose. Inform laboratory of last dose time and amount. Note: Specimen should be collected prior to dosing or at least 12 hours after last dose for accurate trough measurement.
Clinical interpretation
How abnormal results are interpreted and what conditions they suggest.
The acetyldigitoxin test is clinically significant because it helps healthcare providers monitor drug therapy in patients with congestive heart failure and certain arrhythmias. Maintaining appropriate drug levels is crucial—too little may not control symptoms, while too much can lead to toxicity. Regular monitoring helps optimize treatment outcomes and reduce the risk of adverse effects. This test is part of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), a practice used for medications with narrow therapeutic windows where the difference between effective and toxic doses is small.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to fast before the test?
When will I get my results?
What do abnormal results mean?
How often should this test be done?
Sources
- 1
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This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Editorial Team Last reviewed August 10, 2026. · Read our editorial policy