Serumniveau

Serumniveau refers to the concentration of a specific substance, such as a hormone, protein, enzyme, or drug, in a sample of blood serum. Serum is the liquid component of blood that remains after clotting has occurred. Measuring serumniveau is a common practice in medical diagnostics and therapeutic drug monitoring.

These levels can provide valuable information about a person's health status. For instance, elevated or decreased levels of certain substances can indicate the presence of disease, the effectiveness of a treatment, or the need for dosage adjustments. For example, abnormal levels of cholesterol or glucose in the serum can be indicators of cardiovascular disease or diabetes, respectively.

Therapeutic drug monitoring involves regularly measuring the serumniveau of a medication to ensure it remains within a safe and effective range. This is particularly important for drugs with a narrow therapeutic window, where the difference between an effective dose and a toxic dose is small. By monitoring serumniveau, healthcare providers can optimize treatment and minimize the risk of adverse effects.

The process of determining serumniveau typically involves drawing a blood sample, which is then processed to obtain serum. This serum is then analyzed using various laboratory techniques, such as immunoassays, spectrophotometry, or chromatography, depending on the substance being measured. The results are usually reported in specific units of measurement.