Home
HelpTest ID DSSX Drug Screen, Prescription/Over the Counter, Chain of Custody, Serum
Specimen Required
Supplies: Chain-of-Custody Kit (T282) containing the specimen seals and documentation are required
Container/Tube: Red top (serum gel/SST tubes are not acceptable); kit contains the specimen seals and documentation required
Preferred: One 10-mL red top
Acceptable: One 5-mL red top
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial
Specimen Volume: 2.75 mL
Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into plastic vial within 2 hours of collection. Cap, seal, and submit with the associated documentation to satisfy the legal requirements for chain-of-custody testing.
Additional Information: See Emergency/Overdose.
Forms
1. Chain of Custody Request is included in the Chain-of-Custody Kit (T282).
2. If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Therapeutics Test Request (T831) with the specimen.
Secondary ID
62723Useful For
Detection and identification of prescription or over the counter drugs frequently found in drug overdose or used with a suicidal intent
Qualitatively identifying drugs present in the specimen; quantification of identified drugs, when available, may be performed upon client request.
This test is not intended for therapeutic drug monitoring or compliance testing.
This test is not intended for use in employment-related testing.
This test is not useful for drugs of abuse or illicit drug testing, including benzodiazepines, opioids, barbiturates, cocaine, and amphetamine type stimulants.
Chain of custody is required whenever the results of testing could be used in a court of law. Its purpose is to protect the rights of the individual contributing the specimen by demonstrating that it was under the control of personnel involved with testing the specimen at all times; this control implies that the opportunity for specimen tampering would be limited.
Additional Tests
| Test ID | Reporting Name | Available Separately | Always Performed |
|---|---|---|---|
| COCH | Chain of Custody Processing | No | Yes |
Special Instructions
Method Name
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
Reporting Name
Drug Scrn, Prescription/OTC, CoC, SSpecimen Type
Serum RedSpecimen Minimum Volume
1.1 mL
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serum Red | Refrigerated (preferred) | 14 days | |
| Frozen | 14 days | ||
| Ambient | 3 hours |
Clinical Information
This test looks for a broad spectrum of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. It is designed to detect drugs that have toxic effects, as well as known antidotes or active therapies that a clinician can initiate to treat the toxic effect. The test is intended to help physicians manage an apparent overdose or intoxicated patient, to determine if a specific set of symptoms might be due to the presence of drugs, or to evaluate a patient who might be abusing these drugs intermittently. This test is not appropriate for drugs of abuse or illicit drug testing, including benzodiazepines, opioids, barbiturates, cocaine, and amphetamine type stimulants.
Drugs of toxic significance that are not detected by this test are: digoxin, lithium, and many drugs of abuse or illicit drugs, some benzodiazepines, and most opiates.
See Emergency/Overdose for detection limits for drugs detected in this test.
Reference Values
Drugs detected are presumptive. Additional testing may be required to confirm the presence of any drugs detected.
Cautions
Specimens collected in serum gel tubes are not acceptable, as the drug/analyte can absorb on the gel and lead to falsely decreased concentrations.
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Saturday
Report Available
3 to 4 daysPerforming Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
Test Classification
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.CPT Code Information
80307