Turnaround times
The quoted turnaround time is from sample receipt in the laboratory, to results authorisation in the Laboratory Information Management system. The times do not include transport of specimen to the laboratory or the administrative process to print and post/email reports. Service users must allow for transport and reporting time when ordering tests.
Clinical background:
Detecting drugs of abuse: alcohol, amphetamines (including ecstasy and novel psychoactive substances), barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, cocaine, methadone, opiates (including heroin).
Specimen container paediatric:
White universal container, random urine
Specimen container adult:
White universal container, random urine
Minimum volume paediatric:
10 mL urine
Minimum volume adult:
10 mL urine
Special requirements:
Special procedure for chain of custody samples
Sample stability:
Samples are stable at 4°C to be analysed within 5 days of collection.For prolonged storage, freezing of samples is recommended.
Transport requirements:
Ambient temperature.
Interpretation:
A positive result indicates that the patient may have recently used one or more of the drugs detected by this technique.
Reference ranges:
All drug tests should be Negative
Factors affecting result:
Use of immunoassay technology exhibits a small (approximately 2%) false-positive rate due to interaction of the reagents with naturally occurring substances and over-the-counter drugs. Positive amphetamines and opiates are therefore confirmed by an alternative technique by Wansbeck Toxicology Laboratory.