Toxicology screen

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Blood test

Overview

Risks

Results

Toxicology screen

Alternative Names:

Barbiturates - screen; Benzodiazepines - screen; Amphetamines - screen; Analgesics - screen; Antidepressants - screen; Narcotics - screen; Methanol - screen; Phenothiazines - screen; Isopropanol (rubbing alcohol) - screen; Drug abuse screen; Blood alcohol test

Normal Values:

"Normal" levels vary according to the institution performing the test.

Blood can be tested for the presence and levels (amounts) of medications. Urine screening is usually reported as positive (substance is present) or negative (absent), but the level of certain substances can also be measured fairly accurately in urine.

Therapeutic levels are measured for prescribed or over-the-counter medications (see the specific medication).

Alcohol, prescription medications that are not prescribed, and illegal drugs are not normally present.

What abnormal results mean:

The presence of illegal drugs or drugs not prescribed for the person indicates illicit drug use.

Elevated levels of alcohol or prescription drugs can indicate intentional or accidental intoxication and/or overdose.

Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:

alcohol withdrawal state
alcoholism
drug abuse monitoring
analgesic nephropathy
at risk for fetal alcohol syndrome
complicated alcohol abstinence (delirium tremens)
delirium
dementia
stroke secondary to cocaine

Review Date: 3/2/2006
Reviewed By: Daniel R. Alexander, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, St. Mary's Hospital, Leonardtown, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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