Digitoxin is a medication used to treat a variety of heart conditions. This article describes the test used to determine the level of digitoxin in your blood.

See also: Therapeutic drug monitoring

Blood is drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The site is cleaned with germ-killing medicine (antiseptic). The health care provider wraps an elastic band around the upper arm to apply pressure to the area and make the vein swell with blood.

Next, the health care provider gently inserts a needle into the vein. The blood collects into an airtight vial or tube attached to the needle. The elastic band is removed from your arm.

Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.

In infants or young children, a sharp tool called a lancet may be used to puncture the skin and make it bleed. The blood collects into a small glass tube called a pipette, or onto a slide or test strip. A bandage may be placed over the area if there is any bleeding.

Your health care provider will tell you if you should or should not take your usual dose of medication before the test.

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.

This test is mainly used to monitor patients who take digitoxin. It is done to determine the effective drug dosage and prevent toxicity. Monitoring the drug level in your bloodstream is important because there is a narrow margin of safety between therapeutic levels and harmful ones.

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

Abnormal levels means digitalis toxicity is present or is likely to develop.

Increased levels may be due to an excessive or inadequate dosage of the drug.

Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.

Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:

• Excessive bleeding
• Fainting or feeling light-headed
• Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
• Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)