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Immunoassay reagents intended to perform quantitative analyses on a body fluid sample (e.g., serum, plasma) to identify and/or measure levels of theophylline (a drug that relaxes bronchial smooth muscles to relieve or prevent asthma) or aminophylline (a drug combination that contains theophylline and ethylenediamine), present in the sample. Reagents for theophylline/aminophylline determination are used to monitor the therapeutic drug level in patients under treatment, either to determine the adequacy of drug treatment, or to diagnose a drug overdose or drug-related toxicity. Caffeine, an effective inhibitor of apnea, is a minor metabolite of theophylline in adults, but its long half-life in neonates makes necessary the concurrent determination of theophylline and caffeine in those patients.
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