Drugs of Abuse Screen 5, Chain of Custody, Meconium
Use
The Drugs of Abuse Screen 5, Chain of Custody, Meconium is utilized for the identification of amphetamines (and methamphetamines), opiates, phencyclidine, as well as metabolites of cocaine and marijuana in meconium specimens. The test is crucial in contexts where there is suspicion of fetal exposure to drugs, which may have serious implications for neonatal health and may affect custody decisions. The chain of custody protocol ensures the results are legally defensible, demonstrating the specimen was constantly under control, minimizing tampering risks and confirming the integrity of legal evidence for cases involving suspected maternal drug use during pregnancy.
Special Instructions
This test requires a chain of custody process, meaning the specimen needs to be handled with strict documentation and control protocols to be legally viable for court use. Users are advised to select the appropriate kit (Chain of Custody Meconium Kit) for collection, which contains all necessary containers, seals, and documentation to maintain chain of custody requirements. The processing involves competitive chemiluminescent immunoassay, with positive results confirmed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.
Limitations
The test is performed on meconium specimens, which may not detect every possible drug exposure due to variability in drug deposition in meconium. False positives or negatives are possible if the specimen is improperly collected or stored. Proper transportation and refrigeration are critical, as some drug metabolites, like heroin's 6-monoacetylmorphine, are unstable at non-frozen temperatures. It is essential to ensure specimens are not grossly bloody or contained within diapers to prevent rejection.
New York Approved
Methodology
Immunoassay (CLIA)
Biomarkers
LOINC Codes
- 49046-6
- 26895-3
- 27289-8
- 26956-3
- 29158-3
- 26859-9
- 26893-8
- 77202-0
Result Turnaround Time
1-2 days
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Other
Volume
1 g (approximately 1 teaspoon)
Minimum Volume
0.45 g (approximately 0.5 teaspoon)
Container
Chain of Custody Meconium Kit (T653)
Collection Instructions
Collect entire random meconium specimen. Specimen that arrives with a broken seal does not meet the chain-of-custody requirements. Send chain-of-custody specimens by overnight shipment.
Causes for Rejection
Grossly bloody specimens are rejected, pink coloration is acceptable. Specimens in diapers are rejected.
Stability Requirements
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Room Temperature | 72 hours |
| Refrigerated | 21 days |
| Frozen | 21 days |