Methodology

Availability of specimen type and amount influence the analyses which are performed in each case. When there are no specimen restrictions, the following battery of tests are performed:

Note: The full battery of tests is not typically performed on passengers except on special request. Passengers are analyzed for carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) and cyanide in the event of a fire.

Carboxyhemoglobin: Blood

  • Quantitation: UV/VIS
    • Reporting cutoff: 10%
  • Confirmation: GC/TCD

Cyanide: Blood (performed only if COHb is ≥ 10%)

  • Quantitation: UV/VIS with Conway Diffusion preparation/color test
    • Reporting cutoff: 0.25 µg/mL cutoff

Volatiles: All specimen types

  • Headspace GC/FID, dual column
  • Screening and Quantitation for Ethanol/Methanol/Isopropanol/Acetone
    • When Ethanol ≥ 10 mg/dL
      • Ethanol Reporting: Cutoff is 10 mg/dL
      • Methanol/Isopropanol/Acetone Reporting: LOD = 1.0 mg/dL, LOQ = 2.5 mg/dL
    • When Ethanol < 10 mg/dL
      • Ethanol Reporting: Negative
      • Methanol/Isopropanol/Acetone Reporting: Cutoff is 10 mg/dL
  • Screening and Qualitative reporting for n-propanol, iso butanol, n-butanol, and sec-butanol
    • When Ethanol ≥ 10 mg/dL
      • Reporting Cutoff is 1 mg/dL
    • When Ethanol < 10 mg/dL
    • Reporting: Negative

Glucose: Urine or Vitreous Fluid

  • Screening and Quantitation: Chemical Analyzer, LOD/LOQ = 10.0 mg/dL
  • Confirmation: Color test (dipstick) for abnormal postmortem glucose concentrations
  • Postmortem vitreous glucose levels above 125 mg/dL are considered abnormal.
  • Postmortem urine levels above 100 mg/dL are considered abnormal.

Hemoglobin A1c: Blood

  • Quantitation: Chemical Analyzer
  • Hemoglobin A1c blood levels above 6% are considered abnormal. Hemoglobin A1c testing is performed when Vitreous glucose level ≥ 125 mg/dL or Urine glucose level ≥ 100 mg/dL or upon request.
Immunoassay Drug Screen: Urine
Screening: Chemical Analyzer
Assay Type Target Analyte Cutoff
Amphetamines/Methamphetamines d-Methamphetamine 250 ng/mL
Barbiturates Secobarbital 100 ng/mL
Benzodiazepines Oxazepam 100 ng/mL
Buprenorphine Buprenorphine 5 ng/mL
Cannabinoids (-)-11-nor-9-Carboxy-delta-9-THC 25 ng/mL
Cocaines Benzoylecgonine 100 ng/mL
Fentanyl Fentanyl 1 ng/mL
Opiates Morphine 100 ng/mL
Phencyclidine (PCP) Phencyclidine (PCP) 15 ng/mL
Immunoassay Drug Screen: Blood and Tissue
Screening: Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)
Assay Type Target Analyte Cutoff
Barbiturates Secobarbital 30 ng/mL
Benzodiazepines Oxazepam 20 ng/mL
Cannabinoids (-)-11-nor-9-Carboxy-delta-9-THC 15 ng/mL
Cocaines Benzoylecgonine 20 ng/mL
Fentanyl Fentanyl 1 ng/mL
Methamphetamine d-Methamphetamine 40 ng/mL
Opiates Morphine 20 ng/mL
Phencyclidine (PCP) Phencyclidine (PCP) 20 ng/mL

General Drug Screen: Any specimen type

  • Screening: GC/MS and LC/QTOF for basic and acidic/neutral drugs
  • Includes many classes of abused drugs, prescription drugs, and over the counter drugs.

Drug Confirmation: Any specimen type

  • GC/MS or LC/MS/MS
    • Abused or impairing drugs will be quantitated, as appropriate
    • Other drugs may be reported qualitatively
  • All reported drugs are confirmed. No presumptive positives are reported.
Last updated: Friday, June 14, 2024