A toxicology screen refers to various tests to determine the type and approximate amount of legal and illegal drugs a person has taken.

Barbiturates - screen; Benzodiazepines - screen; Amphetamines - screen; Analgesics - screen; Antidepressants - screen; Narcotics - screen; Phenothiazines - screen; Drug abuse screen; Blood alcohol test

Toxicology screening is most often done using a blood or urine sample. However, it may be done soon after swallowing the medication, using stomach contents that are obtained through gastric lavage or after vomiting.

For information on giving a blood sample from a vein, see venipuncture.

For information providing a urine sample, see clean catch urine sample. In some circumstances, you may need to provide the urine sample in the presence of the nurse or technician to verify that the urine sample came from you and was not tampered with.

No special preparation is needed. If able, tell your health care provider what drugs (including over-the-counter medications) you have taken, including when and how much.

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Toxicology screen Results

Review Date: 01/12/2011
Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)