Toxicology

TOXICOLOGY

A. SUBSTANCE ABUSE TESTING SERVICES (Drugs of Abuse/Anabolic Steroids)

The UVA Substance Abuse Testing Facility is a component laboratory of the Toxicology Division.

Drugs of Abuse Screen:  This laboratory performs urine drug screens by enzyme immunoassays (EMIT).  All positive screens are automatically confirmed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS).

Anabolic Steroids:  Urine screening and confirmation for anabolic steroids is performed by GC/MS

B. URINE CATECHOLAMINE TESTING

All urine catecholamine tests require a timed collection, preferably a complete 24-hour specimen.  Fluid intake should be normal and current medications that cannot be discontinued should be noted. Aliquots from a well mixed complete 24 hour collection may be submitted for analysis with total volume recorded when submitting aliquots.  Spot urine samples for VMA on pediatric patients are acceptable. They can be collected in a clean catch container without added preservative.

C. BIOCHEMICAL GENETICS

In-patient requests may be ordered in the Epic system.  Out-patient requests may be ordered by submitting the Clinical Pathology Special Laboratories Test Request Form (#33511) or by ordering through CareCast.

The laboratory will provide processing for certain tests not performed at our facility and will arrange for shipping of specimens. These tests may include acyclarnitine profile, galactose-1-phosphate, galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase with electrophoresis.  Please contact the lab (4-0493) for specific requirements.