Laboratory Medicine
Test Directory / Urine Drugs of Abuse
Urine Drugs of Abuse
Urine monovette or white topped universal (no additives)
| Test | Urine Drugs of Abuse |
|---|---|
| Common Abbreviations | DAU |
| Profile | NA |
| Tube type | Urine monovette or white topped universal (no additives) |
| Clinical Indication | Screen for recent use of drugs of abuse. Eight drugs of abuse are included in the screen, these are amphetamine, buprenorphine, benzodiazepines, cannabis (THC), cocaine, morphine, methadone (parent) and methamphetamine. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A CLINICAL SERVICE ONLY AND IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR WORKPLACE SCREENING OR OTHER NON-CLINICAL SITUATIONS. |
| Specimen Type | Urine |
| Sample type | Randon Urine |
| Minimum Volume | 5mL |
| Special Precautions | No special requirements |
| Stability | 48 hours at 2-8°C |
| Turnaround Time | Inpatient: 6 hours |
| Laboratory | York and Scarborough |
| Reference Interval | Interpretative result provided |
| Limitations | The amphetamine test strip will detect the presence of MDA (cut-off 1000 µg/L) but is unlikely to detect MDMA. This may be detected in the methamphetamine test strip. Phentermine, which is occasionally used as an appetite suppressant, may cross-react with the amphetamine test and cause a positive result. Norbuprenorphine and buprenorphine-3-?-D-glucuronide will cross react with the buprenorphine assay and produce positive results at a cut-off of 50 µg/L and 10 µg/L, respectively. The 300 µg/L cut-off quoted for the benzodiazepines test strip is based on the cross reactivity of oxazepam in the test. Different benzodiazepines will produce positive results at different concentrations. The same is true for the morphine test strip, for which the cut-off is based on morphine itself. Other opiate compounds may cross-react and produce positive results at different levels. The test only detects the presence of the methadone parent drug in the sample, and not its metabolite EDDP. It is therefore important to note that in vitro contamination with methadone may produce misleading results. |
| Notes |
