Amphetamines, Screen
CPT Code(s):
80307
Turnaround Time:
8 hours
Specimen Requirements
Preferred Specimen:
Urine
Minimum Volume:
5.0 mL
Transport Container:
Yellow Top Tube or Sterile Cup
Transport Temperature:
Room Temperature
Collection Instructions:
Collect urine in plastic container and transfer to plain yellow top tube (without preservative).
Rejection Criteria:
Specimen received outside stability requirements; Excessive blood, particulates, viscosity present. Preservative (speckled top) tube.
Stability Criteria
Room Temperature:
5 days
Refrigerated:
7 days
Frozen:
30 days
Clinical Significance
Amphetamines Screen using immunoassay holds specific clinical significance and diagnostic use in the field of toxicology and substance abuse screening. This test is designed to detect the presence of amphetamines, a class of stimulant drugs, in a patient's urine or other body fluids.
The clinical significance and diagnostic use of Amphetamines Screen using immunoassay include:
1. Drug Abuse Screening: The test is primarily used for screening and detecting the use of amphetamines. It provides a quick and convenient method to determine whether a patient has recently used amphetamines, which are commonly abused substances. This test is particularly valuable in settings such as workplace drug testing, addiction treatment programs, or probationary monitoring to identify drug misuse or illicit drug use.
2. Treatment Monitoring: For patients undergoing treatment for amphetamine abuse or addiction, regular screening with Amphetamines Screen helps monitor treatment progress and compliance. It provides healthcare providers with objective evidence of recent amphetamine use and assists in evaluating the effectiveness of treatment interventions.
3. Medicolegal and Forensic Applications: Amphetamines Screen has applications in legal and forensic contexts, such as identifying amphetamine use in legal cases or determining impairment in situations such as accidents or arrests. It provides evidence of recent amphetamine exposure, aiding in legal proceedings and determining legal responsibility.
4. Differential Diagnosis: The test aids in the differential diagnosis of symptoms associated with amphetamine use or intoxication. It helps healthcare providers rule out or confirm amphetamine use as a potential cause for symptoms such as increased alertness, hyperactivity, agitation, or cardiovascular effects.
5. Public Health Surveillance: Amphetamines Screen is used in public health surveillance programs to monitor the prevalence and trends of amphetamine use within a population. By identifying the use of amphetamines, healthcare authorities can develop targeted prevention and intervention strategies to address substance abuse issues effectively.
It is important to note that Amphetamines Screen using immunoassay provides a qualitative result, indicating the presence or absence of amphetamines above a specific threshold. If a positive result is obtained, further confirmatory testing using more specific methods, such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), is typically performed to confirm the presence of amphetamines and provide quantitative measurements.
In summary, Amphetamines Screen using immunoassay has clinical significance in toxicology and substance abuse screening. It aids in drug abuse screening, treatment monitoring, forensic applications, differential diagnosis, and public health surveillance. By detecting the presence of amphetamines in a patient's body fluids, this test assists healthcare providers and authorities in identifying drug misuse, ensuring patient safety, and implementing appropriate interventions and prevention strategies.