Drug Analyses in Meconium
Drug abuse during pregnancy poses a serious threat to the normal development of the foetus. As the number of cases have been increased recently, it becomes more important to treat new-borns as quickly as possible. Meconium, the first stool after birth, can be used to detect a possible drug abuse of the mother during the 2nd and 3rd trimester reliably.
Using liquid chromatography (LC-MS/MS) the following drugs can be quantified:
- Amphetamines/Methamphetamines
- Benzodiazepines (incl. Z-Drugs)
- Cannabinoids
- Cocaine
- Ketamine
- Methadone
- Opiates
- Opioids
NOTE: Please send meconium samples immediately after collection to the lab. Drugs are stable in frozen samples (-15 °C) for up to nine months.