The University of Iowa (UIHC)
Department of Pathology
LABORATORY SERVICES HANDBOOK


Drugs of Abuse Panel, Meconium - Screen with Reflex to Confirmation/Quantitation
Order Code: MEC9
Epic Lab Code: LAB4840
Order Form: A-1a Miscellaneous Request or Epic Req
  Commercial "Mail-out" Laboratory
6240 RCP
356-3527
Specimen:
Meconium
Collection Medium:
Meconium
Minimum:
Meconium. All meconium (blackish material) excreted until milk/formula 
based stool (yellow-green) appears.

All meconium available (4 g is preferred) at 20-25(Min: 2 g or 3/4 inch 
cube on each side)
Analytic Time:
Within 4 days
Negative: 1-2 days; Positive: 2-4 days
Reference Range:
                  Drugs Covered and Cutoff Concentrations
Drug                             Screen     Confirmation
Marijuana                        30 ng/g        5 ng/g
  9-carboxy-THC
  11-hydroxy-THC
Cocaine                          30 ng/g       20 ng/g
  Cocaine
  Benzoylecgonine
  m-hydroxybenzoylecgonine
  Cocaethylene
Opiates                          30 ng/g        2 ng/g
  Codeine
  Morphine
  6 - acetylmorphine
  Hydrocodone
  Hydromorphone
  Oxycodone
Phencyclidine                    15 ng/g       10 ng/g
Amphetamines                     30 ng/g       20 ng/g
  Amphetamine
  Methamphetamine
  Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA-Ecstasy)
  Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA)
Barbiturates                     75 ng/g       50 ng/g
  Butalbital
  Amobarbital
  Pentobarbital
  Secobarbital
  Phenobarbital
Methadone and metabolite         40 ng/g       10 ng/g
Benzodiazepines                  75 ng/g       20 ng/g
  Alprazolam
  Alpha-hydroxyalprazolam
  Clonazepam
  7-Amino Clonazepam
  Diazepam
  Alpha-hydroxyethylflurazepam
  Lorazepam
  Nordiazepam
  Oxazepam
  Temazepam
  Alpha-hydroxytriazolam
Propoxyphene and metabolite      75 ng/g       10 ng/g
Interpretive Data:
Meconium begins to form between the 12th and 16th week of gestation. 
Meconium drug testing can detect maternal drug use during the last 4 to 
5 months of pregnancy. A negative result does not exclude the 
possibility that a mother used drugs during pregnancy. Detection of 
drug use depends on the quantity and quality of the specimen tested as 
well as the pattern and frequency of drug(s) used by mother. The 
concentration at which the screening test can detect a drug or 
metabolite varies within a drug class. Specimens for which drugs or 
drug classes are detected by the screen are reflexed to a second, more 
specific technology (GC/MS and/or LC-MS/MS). The concentration value 
must be greater than or equal to the cutoff to be reported as Positive. 
Although not likely, the presence of drugs administered during labor 
and delivery may be detected in meconium.

For medical purposes only; not valid for forensic use.

Note: Screen-positive specimens are automatically confirmed by GC/MS 
and/or LC-MS/MS; additional charges may apply.
Comments:
Screen-positive specimens are automatically confirmed by GC/MS or 
LC-MS/MS, additional charges may apply.

If specimen screens positive, then the confirmation test for the drug 
class will be added.
Methodology:
Enzyme-Linked Immunoassay/Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/Liquid 
Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry
CPT Code:
80101 x9 Screen; if positive add appropriate CPT code for drug 
confirmed: 82542 Marijuana; 82520 Cocaine; 83925 Opiates; 83992 
Phencyclidine; 82145 Amphetamines; 82205 Barbiturates; 83840 Methadone; 
80154 Benzodiazapine; 83925 Propoxyphene

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Updated: 11/13/2009

Note: The information contained in this handbook is for use by personnel of University of Iowa Health Care. No other use is implied or intended.