Sample Collection - Blood, Serum, Plasma

For a test of alcohol, of the alcohol marker ethylglucuronide, of CDT or the liver values (AST, ALT, GGT) the blood sample should be taken by medical staff. Blood or serum is also the most adequate specimen for monitoring medical drugs. Some drugs such as immune suppressive agents and also metals can be better measured in EDTA blood. Blood taken for analysis of illegal drugs particularly cocaine but also benzodiazepines (flunitrazepam) should be collected into a tube with sodium or potassium fluoride.
If blood transport to the laboratory is delayed, the samples should be kept in the refrigerator.

Overview Blutentnahme-Röhrchen

Serum tubes	alcohol(marker), liver values, Presciption drugs
EDTA tubes	prescription drugs, trace elements, heavy metals
Tubes with added NaF/KF	drugs of abuse (esp. Cocaine)

Further information on relevant topics

Urine

To prevent adulteration, collection of a forensic urine sample should occur under supervision. We recommend the collection in a urine cup from which a few mL are transferred into a urine Monovette®

Hair

The collection of a hair sample for an analysis of drugs of abuse, medical drugs or the alcohol marker ethylglucuronide is not a medical intervention. Hence it must not be carried out by medical staff. However, it should be performed by qualified trained persons according to recognized guidelines to avoid pre-analytical errors.

Saliva

The collection of a saliva sample for an analysis of drugs of abuse or medical drugs is not a medical intervention. Hence it must not be carried out by medical staff. However, it should be performed by qualified trained persons according to recognized guidelines to avoid pre-analytical errors.

Dried Blood Samples

Chromatographic drug analyses (LC-MS/MS) in capillary blood and DBS (dried blood samples) respectively are of increasing importance. Using dried blood samples can be unequivocally assigned to patients and the number of detectable substances is generally larger than in urine.

Meconium

Please send meconium samples immediately after collection to the lab. Drugs are stable in frozen samples (-15 °C) for up to nine months.

Storage

If transport to our laboratory is delayed, depending on sample material, certain aspects have to be noted.

Transport

Besides postage a shipment of samples by courier is possible within most parts of Germany.