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 no drug screen was requested but the blood alcohol result is less than 0.085 g/100 mL, a standard drug screen will be completed.
If alcohol analysis was not requested but the case is negative for drugs, alcohol analysis will be completed unless there is a valid breath test on record.
The coadministration of cocaine and ethanol produces cocaethylene. If alcohol analysis was not requested but the case confirms for cocaethylene above the cutoff, alcohol analysis will be completed unless there is a valid breath test on record.
Request for Analysis
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. Rush 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.