Preferred Sample Type
Suitable Specimen Types
- Plain Spot Urine
Specimen Transport
UsualSample Processing in Laboratory
Remove aliquot for creatinine measurement. Place primary container into 'Drugs of Abuse' RackSample Preparation
Send to laboratory immediately after collection
Turnaround Time
3 working daysSample Stability
Room TemperatureDrugs of Abuse Screening (DOAS)
General Information
Drugs of Abuse screening (DOAS) may be ordered in a number of situations including:
• To evaluate drug use by the mother in pregnancy and presence of drug in neonates post partum
• To monitor adherance to substitute drugs (e.g. methadone) in patients known to be users of illict substances
Testing for drugs of abuse usually involves testing a urine specimen for a number of drugs. It should be noted, however, that a single urine drug test detects only fairly recent drug use and does not differentiate casual use from chronic drug use. The latter requires sequential drug testing and clinically evaluation. Also, urine testing does not determine the degree of impairment, the dose of drug taken or the exact time of use.
As of 25th March 2025 we will be introducing a new assay for drugs of abuse which will cover a wider repertoire of drugs and will now include some prescription drugs that are commonly abused.
The new assay will use a high resolution accurate mass spectrometer to detect the following drugs:
|
Drug Class |
Drugs |
|
Opiates and opioids |
Buprenorphine (+ metabolite), Codeine, Dihydrocodeine, Fentanyl (+ metabolite), Methadone (+ metabolite), 6-Monoacetylmorphine, Morphine, Oxycodone, Papaverine, Pethidine (+ metabolite) and Tramadol (+ metabolite). |
|
Benzodiazepines |
Alprazolam (+ metabolite), Bromazolam, Chlordiazepoxide (+ metabolite), Clobazam (+ metabolite), Clonazepam (+ metabolite), Diazepam (+ metabolite), Etizolam, Flualprazolam, Flubromazolam, Flunitrazepam (+ metabolite), Lorazepam, Midazolam (+ metabolite), Nitrazepam (+ metabolite) and Temazepam (+ metabolite). |
|
Amphetamines |
Amphetamine, 2C-B, 2C-I, MDEA, MDMA (Ecstasy) (+ metabolite), MDPV, Mephedrone, Methamphetamine, Methylphenidate and Ritalanic acid. |
|
Other |
Cocaine (+ metabolite), Gabapentin, Ketamine (+ metabolite), Pregabalin, Promethazine, Quetiapine, Tetrahydrocannabinol metabolite (cannabis metabolite), Zaleplon, Zolpidem and Zopiclone. |
Drugs not listed here WILL NOT be detected by this technique. If you wish to screen for additional drugs please contact the Toxicology Laboratory on 0121 424 3707.
Patient Preparation
None
Notes
We do not screen for barbituates, propoxyphenes, phencyclidine, LSD or methaqualones.
Collect urine into plain universal container. Samples collected into boric acid (red top) WILL NOT be analysed.
Reference Range
Positive results represent concentrations of drugs above the European Workplace Testing Thresholds with the exception of benzodiazepines. We have lowered the cut off for this class of drug to 10ug/L to increase the detection of benzodiazepines.
Bromazolam, Etizolam, Flualprazolam, Flubromazolam, THC-COOH glucuronide, Buprenorphine glucuronide and Norbuprenorphine glucuronide will be qualitative only.
Drugs without a cut-off have been assigned one based on chemically similar compounds.
Specifications
- EQA Scheme?: Yes
- EQA Status: LGC DAU