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. However, passengers are analyzed for CARBON MONOXIDE, via carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), in cases of fire, and CYANIDE when COHb is ≥ 10%, or upon special request, provided suitable blood samples are available.

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
• Confirmation: LC-UV/VIS

Volatiles: All specimen types

• GC/FID, dual column
• Quantitation: Methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and acetone
  • LOD = 1.0 mg/dL, LOQ = 2.5 mg/dL
• Qualitative: acetaldehyde, n-propanol, isobutanol, n-butanol, sec-butanol
• Confirmation: GC/FID, dual column
• Urine Ethanol: Chemical analyzer, performed when ethanol ≥ 10 mg/dL by GC/FID.

Glucose: Urine or Vitreous Fluid

• Quantitation: Chemical Analyzer, LOD/LOQ = 5.0 mg/dL
• Confirmation: Color test (dipstick) for Glucose ≥ 100 mg/dL
• 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.

General Drug Screen: Any specimen type

• Screening: GC/MS and LC/MS for basic, acidic and neutral drugs

Drug Confirmation: Any specimen type

• Quantitation: GC/MS or LC/MS; Abused or impairing drugs will be quantitated. Other drugs may be reported qualitatively.