Drug analyses in capillary blood, dried blood samples (DBS)

Chromatographic drug analyses (LC-MS/MS) in capillary blood and DBS (dried blood samples) respectively are of increasing importance. A quick and reliable detection of a possible drug abuse is especially important with patients in substitution programmes. Using dried blood samples can be unequivocally assigned to patients and the number of detectable substances is generally larger than in urine. As an example, the consumption of heroin can be explicitly proven by detecting not only morphine but also 6-monoacetylmorphine. The identification of specific benzodiazepines is also possible. Furthermore, increased levels of THC-COOH can be for regular cannabis consumption.

The collection of capillary blood is a standardized procedure in which a micro sampling device allows for a quick and hygienic sample collection.

Dried blood samples, taken with a micro sampler, can be analysed for drugs and psychotropic medication:

1. Drug screening (code: DBSLC)

Cannabinoids: THC, THC-COOH, THC-CO

Opiates: Morphine, 6-Monoacetylmorphine, Codeine, Dihydrocodeine

Cocaine: Cocaine, Benzoylecgonine, Norcocaine

Amphetamine: Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, MDA, MDMA

Methadone: Methadone, EDDP

Benzodiazepines: Diazepam, Nordiazepam, Oxazepam, Alprazolam, Bromazepam, Flunitrazepam, 7-Aminoflunitrazepam, Lorazepam, Clonazepam

Opioids: Buprenorphine, Norbuprenorphine, Tilidine, Nortilidine, Oxycodone, Tramadol, O-Desmethytramadol, Fentanyl, Norfentanyl

Medication: Ketamine

Z-Drugs: Zopiclone, Zolpidem, Zaleplon

2. Screening for psychotropic medication (code: DBSLM)

About 60 different substances, among them antidepressants, neuroleptics, anticonvulsants and analgesics

Further information on relevant topics

MPA Fitness to Drive

In most industrial countries if a driver loses his driving license as a result of drug or alcohol offense he has to prove abstinence for several months up to one year. The exact conditions of drug testing in urine or hair are different from country to country and depend on the individual situation.

Blood

Blood, serum or plasma are the matrices of choice for toxicological analyses if the objective is to assess the acute impact of a drug of abuse on a person.

Meconium

Drug abuse during pregnancy poses a serious threat to the normal development of the foetus.

Urine

For many years, urine has been the preferred specimen for drug of abuse testing. Depending on the substance or metabolite tested, the type of consumption (smoking, sniffing, injection), the dose and the frequency of consumption, drugs can be measured for several days or weeks. Samples then are collected under direct supervision to minimize manipulation attempts.

Hair

In the last few years hair testing for drugs has been rapidly gaining recognition. During hair growth (about 1 cm per month for head hair) drugs of abuse and their metabolites are continuously incorporated and deposited into the hair matrix following consumption of alcohol or drugs.

Saliva

The testing of drugs in saliva is a rather new alternative to the analysis of drugs in blood or urine. Particularly in workplace drug testing, a sample can be collected without medical intervention to prove or exclude exposure to drugs of abuse.