Total Phenytoin Blood Test - More Info

The phenytoin test, sometimes known as a total phenytoin lab test, Dilantin test, Dilantin blood test, Dilantin level test, or a PHT blood test, measures the phenytoin blood level.

Phenytoin is an anti-seizure medication that is often known by its brand name, Dilantin. Effective in managing a wide range of seizure types, phenytoin can be administered intravenously or taken orally as an outpatient. Phenytoin has been around for decades and is relatively inexpensive.

Because phenytoin, like most medications, operates best within a specific therapeutic range, phenytoin blood testing should be performed on a regular basis in people who are taking phenytoin. In people who are elderly, obese or have kidney or liver disease, special phenytoin dosing regimens should be considered in conjunction with phenytoin level testing. High levels of phenytoin (phenytoin toxicity) can cause hair growth, loss of balance, gum enlargement and abdominal cramping. As a result, regular phenytoin blood testing is used to make sure that phenytoin medication levels are in a therapeutic range.

This phenytoin test measures the total phenytoin blood level and is used to check if Dilantin is in the recommended range so that Dilantin medication dosages can be adjusted as necessary. Typically, the timing of phenytoin blood testing is just before one's dose to capture the phenytoin trough level but such decision should be made in conjunction with one's medical provider. To get the phenytoin test near you, order online and get tested at your selected Quest Diagnostics lab. The phenytoin lab results will be downloadable electronically when available.

To get a phenytoin test near you, order online and get your blood drawn at the Quest Diagnostics lab that you selected. Once your phenytoin lab results are ready, they will be available for download. The phenytoin blood level will be reported as a number and can be compared against the reference range provided by the lab.