Toxicology

Alcohol and Drug Testing

The Blood Alcohol and Drug Screen/Confirmation Unit receives specimens mainly from Driving Under the Influence (DUI) cases to determine the concentration of ethanol (common names include alcohol, drinking alcohol, ethyl alcohol) and presence and concentration of drugs in an individual's system.

Specimens are analyzed for ethanol using Headspace Gas Chromatography.

Specimens are screened for drugs using Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Drugs are identified qualitatively and may proceed to the Drug Confirmation section to be quantitated using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) or LC-MS/MS.

Testing Protocol Notices

If the blood alcohol concentration is greater than 0.120 g/100mL, the sample will not be analyzed for drugs if drug analysis was requested.
If alcohol and drug analysis was requested and the drug result is per se, the sample will not be analyzed for alcohol (this applies only when a drug screen is performed first).

Toxicology analysis is requested using form LVMPD 547. If the test requested does not match the sample submitted, the sample submitted will be analyzed. If suspected drugs are listed but drug testing was not requested, a drug screen will be performed. Evidence submitted from fatal and substantial bodily harm cases will be analyzed for alcohol and drugs regardless of tests requested.

At this time, the Toxicology Detail is not accepting urine samples from outside jurisdictions.