Is Home Testing Of Lithium Salt Levels Possible At Home?

Posted on Fri, 14 Feb 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 14 Feb 2014 Answered on

Fri, 14 Mar 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi. Is there a test kit available somewhere to enable home testing of lithium salt levels. - as people with diabetes do?

Answered by Dr. Anshul Varshney (32 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Not Widely Available Detailed Answer: Dear Friend. Welcome to Health care magic. I am Dr Anshul Varshney. I have read your query in detail. I understand your concern. But as such there are no home apparatus available in the market for detection of lithium levels in blood. Even if you find any through internet it would be very costly and doubt on the reliability of result would always be a concern. I would suggest you to get your serum lithium levels from a reliable laboratory only as strict calibration should be observed in machine. You don't need to measure lithium levels as frequently as blood sugar levels in a diabetic patient. So iwould advice you to get it from a reliable laboratory only. I hope I am able to answer your query , still if you have any further query you may please ask me.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Anshul Varshney (28 minutes later)

How often is the norm? Do you know whether Australian health system have a nominated number per month?

Answered by Dr. Anshul Varshney (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Need more details to answer that Detailed Answer: Dear Friend In order to answer your query I need to know that for what purpose you have been prescribed lithium and also at what doses you are taking it and since when? I would be happy to help you further.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Anshul Varshney (47 hours later)

Prescribed for bipoler. Uses between1150 to 1350mg per day, Since XXXXXXX last year. (9 months) It would be much easier to find correct minimum dose if levels could be tested more regularly. Presently it is tested monthly or 6 weekly. Iinfrequensy doesn't help in giving reliable results either.

Answered by Dr. Anshul Varshney (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: Lab tests are better Detailed Answer: Welcome again. If taking for bipolar. You should monitor it at least every 6 weeks. Getting it tested every 6th week should not be difficult. The report should be from a reliable lab. I understand I am unable to help you much because these kind of kits are not widely available in market. If you don't have a further query you may please close the discussion. If you want to know anything else I am here for you. Stay healthy

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar