Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Errors occurring during blood pressure monitoring01:25

Errors occurring during blood pressure monitoring

Blood pressure monitoring is a crucial clinical procedure in diagnosing and managing various cardiovascular conditions. Despite its significance, the accuracy of blood pressure measurements can be compromised by multiple factors, potentially leading to either falsely high or low readings. These inaccuracies are critical as they can significantly impact patient care. So, it is vital to understand these challenges deeply and adopt strategic approaches to minimize errors.
Several factors...
Mania and Antimanic Drugs: Overview01:24

Mania and Antimanic Drugs: Overview

Mania, a psychological condition characterized by elevated mood, increased energy, and reduced sleep need, is part of the bipolar disorder cycle. The exact cause of mania isn't entirely known, but it is thought to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurological factors. Bipolar disorder involves alternating manic and depressive episodes. Mood stabilizers like lithium, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants help manage these episodes. Lithium carbonate is particularly effective as a...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Advancing the development of diagnostic criteria for clinical depression by scientific strategies.

Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists·2026
Same author

Faecal Transplantation for Bipolar Disorder.

Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie·2026
Same author

A further piece of my mind.

Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists·2026
Same author

MAOI Antidepressants: A History Being Rewritten.

The Journal of clinical psychiatry·2025
Same author

Burnout: At times a physical state.

Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists·2025
Same author

Current issues in relation to burnout's definition, measurement, prevalence and management: A narrative review.

Psychiatry research·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

In Situ Lithiated Reference Electrode: Four Electrode Design for In-operando Impedance Spectroscopy
09:36

In Situ Lithiated Reference Electrode: Four Electrode Design for In-operando Impedance Spectroscopy

Published on: September 12, 2018

Alert: inaccurate lithium assay results.

Gordon Parker1

  • 1University of New South Wales, Australia. g.parker@unsw.edu.au

The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
|July 10, 2008
PubMed
Summary

A rare assay issue can cause falsely low lithium levels, masking dangerous lithium toxicity in bipolar disorder patients. This diagnostic pitfall requires urgent communication to healthcare providers.

Area of Science:

  • Clinical Chemistry
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Diagnostic Assays

Background:

  • Lithium is a cornerstone mood stabilizer for bipolar disorder, requiring careful therapeutic drug monitoring.
  • Maintaining therapeutic lithium levels is crucial for efficacy and preventing toxicity.
  • Long-term lithium adherence in euthymic patients is often observed.

Observation:

  • A patient with a 20-year history of bipolar disorder on lithium therapy experienced spuriously low lithium levels on two occasions, 6 years apart.
  • The most recent incident revealed actual lithium toxicity despite the reported low serum levels.
  • This discrepancy was attributed to a 'hook phenomenon' in the quantitative immunoassay.

Findings:

  • The hook phenomenon can lead to falsely low lithium measurements when high serum lithium concentrations are present.

More Related Videos

Three-electrode Coin Cell Preparation and Electrodeposition Analytics for Lithium-ion Batteries
10:41

Three-electrode Coin Cell Preparation and Electrodeposition Analytics for Lithium-ion Batteries

Published on: May 22, 2018

The Tail Suspension Test
10:17

The Tail Suspension Test

Published on: January 28, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 3, 2026

In Situ Lithiated Reference Electrode: Four Electrode Design for In-operando Impedance Spectroscopy
09:36

In Situ Lithiated Reference Electrode: Four Electrode Design for In-operando Impedance Spectroscopy

Published on: September 12, 2018

Three-electrode Coin Cell Preparation and Electrodeposition Analytics for Lithium-ion Batteries
10:41

Three-electrode Coin Cell Preparation and Electrodeposition Analytics for Lithium-ion Batteries

Published on: May 22, 2018

The Tail Suspension Test
10:17

The Tail Suspension Test

Published on: January 28, 2012

  • This assay interference poses a significant risk of misdiagnosing lithium toxicity.
  • The diagnostic error occurred in a high-stakes clinical scenario where lithium toxicity was suspected.

    • Implications:

    • Accurate lithium quantification is critical, especially when toxicity is suspected.
    • The lack of regulatory communication regarding this assay interference is a serious concern for patient safety.
    • Healthcare providers must be aware of potential immunoassay interferences to ensure correct patient management.