Emergency/Overdose

  • This test is intended to manage an apparent overdose, intoxicated patient, or determine if a specific set of symptoms might be due to the presence of drugs.
  • This test is designed to detect those drugs that have toxic effects, but drugs for which there are known antidotes or active therapies to treat the toxic effect.
  • This test is not appropriate for detecting drugs of abuse. The test is not designed to screen for intermittent or illicit use of drugs.

The prescription and OTC drug screens are available to test for a broad spectrum of drugs in serum and urine. Testing is performed by GC/MS. When drugs are identified above the reportable (detection) limits in the specimen, they will be reported as "Present."

Note: Alcohol, LSD, digoxin, lithium, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and some benzodiazepines, opiates, amphetamine-type stimulants, and most drugs of abuse are not detected by this procedure. For these drugs, the specific confirmation tests should be ordered.

Limits of Detection (LOD) Table

Last Updated November 2017

The limits of detections (LODs) listed below reflect the concentrations at which the specific drugs can be reliably detected.

If the drug is detected at a level below the listed LOD, it will be reported only if it meets laboratory quality criteria for identification.

Drugs other than those listed below may be detected by GC-MS library matching and will be reported if they meet laboratory quality criteria for identification.

Note: Submission of less than the minimum sample volume requires increasing the limit of detection.

Drug Aliases LOD (mcg/mL) Approximate upper Therapeutic Level in serum (mcg/mL) Notes
Acetaminophen Tylenol 10.00 30.00  
Amitriptyline Vanatrip, Elavil, 1.00 0.20  
Amobarbital Amytal 0.50 5.00 Preferred test for detection of barbiturates is a specific request; see Specific Drug Group Confirmation
Brompheniramine Dimetapp, Lodrane 0.50 0.015  
Bupropion Wellbutrin, Zyban 1.00 0.10  
Butabarbital Butisol  0.50 25.00 Preferred test for detection of barbiturates is a specific request; see Specific Drug Group Confirmation
Butalbital   1.00 10.00 Preferred test for detection of barbiturates is a specific request; see Specific Drug Group Confirmation
Caffeine   1.50 20.00  
Carbamazepine TEGretol,  2.00 12.00  
Carisoprodol Soma, Vanadom 1.00 4.00  
Chlorpheniramine   0.50 0.01  
Chlorpromazine Thorazine 1.00 0.30  
Citalopram CeleXA 0.50 0.11  
Clomipramine Anafranil 0.30 0.50  
Clozapine Clozaril 0.50 0.35  
Codeine   1.00 0.20 Preferred test for detection of opiates is a specific request; see Specific Drug Group Confirmation
Cyclobenzaprine Flexeril 0.50 0.03  
Desipramine Norpramin 1.00 0.30  
Dextromethorphan Robitussin, Benylin, VICKS 44 1.00 0.006  
Diazepam Valium 0.25 2.50 Preferred test for detection of benzodiazepines is a specific request; see Specific Drug Group Confirmation
Diphenhydramine Benadryl, Nytol 0.50 1.00  
Doxepin SINEquan, Zonalon 0.50 0.15  
Doxylamine Unisom 1.00 0.20  
Fentanyl Duragesic, Actiq, Sublimaze 0.50 0.011 Preferred test for detection of opioids is a specific request; see Specific Drug Group Confirmation
Fluoxetine PROzac 2.00 0.30  
Guaifenesin Mucinex, Robitussin 1.00 1.50  
Ibuprofen Advil, Motrin 2.50 50.00  
Imipramine Tofranil 0.50 0.30  
Lamotrigine LaMICtal 4.00 15.00  
Levetiracetam Keppra 5.00 46.00  
Lidocaine   1.00 5.00  
Meperidine Demerol 1.00 0.70  
Mephobarbital   1.00 7.00 Preferred test for detection of barbiturates is a specific request; see Specific Drug Group Confirmation
Meprobamate Miltown, Trancot 1.00 30.00  
Metaxalone Skelaxin 0.50 2.00  
Methadone Dolophine 0.50 1.00 Preferred test for detection of opioids is a specific request; see Specific Drug Group Confirmation
Methsuximide Celontin 0.50 0.04  
Methylphenidate Concerta, Ritalin 1.00 0.02  
Midazolam Versed 0.50 0.60  
Mirtazapine Remeron 0.20 0.04  
Naproxen Naprosyn, Aleve 10.00 90.00  
Nordiazepam Nordazepam, Nordaz, Stilny, Madar, Vegesan 0.50 2.50 Preferred test for detection of benzodiazepines is a specific request; see Specific Drug Group Confirmation
Nortriptyline Aventyl, Pamelor 0.50 0.17  
Oxcarbazepine Metabolite 10-Hydroxy-10,11-Dihydrocarbamazepine, Trileptal, 10-monohydroxy metabolite (MHD)  6.00    
Pentobarbital Nembutal 0.50 10.00  
Phenobarbital Luminal 0.50 40.00 Preferred test for detection of barbiturates is a specific request; see Specific Drug Group Confirmation
Phenytoin Dilantin 2.50 2.00  
Primidone Mysoline 2.50 12.00  
Promethazine Phenergan 0.50 0.15  
Salicylate Aspirin 50.00 300.00 Variability in the LOD, not reliable detected in urine. 
Secobarbital Seconal 0.50 2.00 Preferred test for detection of barbiturates is a specific request; see Specific Drug Group Confirmation
Sertraline Zoloft 0.50 0.20  
Strychnine   0.50    
Topiramate Topamax 2.00 20.00  
Tramadol Ultram 0.50 0.80 Preferred test for detection of opioids is a specific request; see Specific Drug Group Confirmation
Trazodone Desyrel 4.00 1.60  
Trimipramine Surmontil 0.50 0.30  
Valproic Acid Depakene,Depakote, Depacon, Divalproex 50.00 125.00 Exhibits variable recovery in urine. 
Venlafaxine Effexor 0.40 0.40  
Zaleplon Sonata 1.00 49.00  
Zolpidem Ambien 0.50 0.25