Emergency/Overdose
- This test is intended to manage an apparent overdose, intoxicated patient, or determine if a specific set of symptoms might be due to the presence of drugs.
- This test is designed to detect those drugs that have toxic effects, but drugs for which there are known antidotes or active therapies to treat the toxic effect.
- This test is not appropriate for detecting drugs of abuse. The test is not designed to screen for intermittent or illicit use of drugs.
The prescription and OTC drug screens are available to test for a broad spectrum of drugs in serum and urine. Testing is performed by GC/MS. When drugs are identified above the reportable (detection) limits in the specimen, they will be reported as "Present."
Note: Alcohol, LSD, digoxin, lithium, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and some benzodiazepines, opiates, amphetamine-type stimulants, and most drugs of abuse are not detected by this procedure. For these drugs, the specific confirmation tests should be ordered.
Limits of Detection (LOD) Table
Last Updated November 2017
The limits of detections (LODs) listed below reflect the concentrations at which the specific drugs can be reliably detected.
If the drug is detected at a level below the listed LOD, it will be reported only if it meets laboratory quality criteria for identification.
Drugs other than those listed below may be detected by GC-MS library matching and will be reported if they meet laboratory quality criteria for identification.
Note: Submission of less than the minimum sample volume requires increasing the limit of detection.
| Drug | Aliases | LOD (mcg/mL) | Approximate upper Therapeutic Level in serum (mcg/mL) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acetaminophen | Tylenol | 10.00 | 30.00 | |
| Amitriptyline | Vanatrip, Elavil, | 1.00 | 0.20 | |
| Amobarbital | Amytal | 0.50 | 5.00 | Preferred test for detection of barbiturates is a specific request; see Specific Drug Group Confirmation |
| Brompheniramine | Dimetapp, Lodrane | 0.50 | 0.015 | |
| Bupropion | Wellbutrin, Zyban | 1.00 | 0.10 | |
| Butabarbital | Butisol | 0.50 | 25.00 | Preferred test for detection of barbiturates is a specific request; see Specific Drug Group Confirmation |
| Butalbital | 1.00 | 10.00 | Preferred test for detection of barbiturates is a specific request; see Specific Drug Group Confirmation | |
| Caffeine | 1.50 | 20.00 | ||
| Carbamazepine | TEGretol, | 2.00 | 12.00 | |
| Carisoprodol | Soma, Vanadom | 1.00 | 4.00 | |
| Chlorpheniramine | 0.50 | 0.01 | ||
| Chlorpromazine | Thorazine | 1.00 | 0.30 | |
| Citalopram | CeleXA | 0.50 | 0.11 | |
| Clomipramine | Anafranil | 0.30 | 0.50 | |
| Clozapine | Clozaril | 0.50 | 0.35 | |
| Codeine | 1.00 | 0.20 | Preferred test for detection of opiates is a specific request; see Specific Drug Group Confirmation | |
| Cyclobenzaprine | Flexeril | 0.50 | 0.03 | |
| Desipramine | Norpramin | 1.00 | 0.30 | |
| Dextromethorphan | Robitussin, Benylin, VICKS 44 | 1.00 | 0.006 | |
| Diazepam | Valium | 0.25 | 2.50 | Preferred test for detection of benzodiazepines is a specific request; see Specific Drug Group Confirmation |
| Diphenhydramine | Benadryl, Nytol | 0.50 | 1.00 | |
| Doxepin | SINEquan, Zonalon | 0.50 | 0.15 | |
| Doxylamine | Unisom | 1.00 | 0.20 | |
| Fentanyl | Duragesic, Actiq, Sublimaze | 0.50 | 0.011 | Preferred test for detection of opioids is a specific request; see Specific Drug Group Confirmation |
| Fluoxetine | PROzac | 2.00 | 0.30 | |
| Guaifenesin | Mucinex, Robitussin | 1.00 | 1.50 | |
| Ibuprofen | Advil, Motrin | 2.50 | 50.00 | |
| Imipramine | Tofranil | 0.50 | 0.30 | |
| Lamotrigine | LaMICtal | 4.00 | 15.00 | |
| Levetiracetam | Keppra | 5.00 | 46.00 | |
| Lidocaine | 1.00 | 5.00 | ||
| Meperidine | Demerol | 1.00 | 0.70 | |
| Mephobarbital | 1.00 | 7.00 | Preferred test for detection of barbiturates is a specific request; see Specific Drug Group Confirmation | |
| Meprobamate | Miltown, Trancot | 1.00 | 30.00 | |
| Metaxalone | Skelaxin | 0.50 | 2.00 | |
| Methadone | Dolophine | 0.50 | 1.00 | Preferred test for detection of opioids is a specific request; see Specific Drug Group Confirmation |
| Methsuximide | Celontin | 0.50 | 0.04 | |
| Methylphenidate | Concerta, Ritalin | 1.00 | 0.02 | |
| Midazolam | Versed | 0.50 | 0.60 | |
| Mirtazapine | Remeron | 0.20 | 0.04 | |
| Naproxen | Naprosyn, Aleve | 10.00 | 90.00 | |
| Nordiazepam | Nordazepam, Nordaz, Stilny, Madar, Vegesan | 0.50 | 2.50 | Preferred test for detection of benzodiazepines is a specific request; see Specific Drug Group Confirmation |
| Nortriptyline | Aventyl, Pamelor | 0.50 | 0.17 | |
| Oxcarbazepine Metabolite | 10-Hydroxy-10,11-Dihydrocarbamazepine, Trileptal, 10-monohydroxy metabolite (MHD) | 6.00 | ||
| Pentobarbital | Nembutal | 0.50 | 10.00 | |
| Phenobarbital | Luminal | 0.50 | 40.00 | Preferred test for detection of barbiturates is a specific request; see Specific Drug Group Confirmation |
| Phenytoin | Dilantin | 2.50 | 2.00 | |
| Primidone | Mysoline | 2.50 | 12.00 | |
| Promethazine | Phenergan | 0.50 | 0.15 | |
| Salicylate | Aspirin | 50.00 | 300.00 | Variability in the LOD, not reliable detected in urine. |
| Secobarbital | Seconal | 0.50 | 2.00 | Preferred test for detection of barbiturates is a specific request; see Specific Drug Group Confirmation |
| Sertraline | Zoloft | 0.50 | 0.20 | |
| Strychnine | 0.50 | |||
| Topiramate | Topamax | 2.00 | 20.00 | |
| Tramadol | Ultram | 0.50 | 0.80 | Preferred test for detection of opioids is a specific request; see Specific Drug Group Confirmation |
| Trazodone | Desyrel | 4.00 | 1.60 | |
| Trimipramine | Surmontil | 0.50 | 0.30 | |
| Valproic Acid | Depakene,Depakote, Depacon, Divalproex | 50.00 | 125.00 | Exhibits variable recovery in urine. |
| Venlafaxine | Effexor | 0.40 | 0.40 | |
| Zaleplon | Sonata | 1.00 | 49.00 | |
| Zolpidem | Ambien | 0.50 | 0.25 |