Inhibition of aminoglycoside activity in heparin

Measurements of aminoglycosides by an agar disk diffusion assay are inhibited by heparin in a dose-dependent way. When assayed by a homogeneous immunoassay, this was only evident for tobramycin. This indicates that specimens for aminoglycoside measurement should not be obtained in heparinized tubes. When heparin is used clinically as an anticoagulant, the amount in blood does not reach levels that affect the aminoglycoside activity.