Video Lecture ARCHIVED: NOT AVAILABLE FOR CREDIT

A Laboratorian’s Guide to Pre-Analytical Variables to Prevent Drug Testing Results from Getting Burned

Drug testing results are used to influence medical and social management decisions. For example, therapeutic drug monitoring is used to optimize dose and manage dose-related toxicity. Detection of inappropriate drug use or exposure may affect eligibility for surgery, particularly organ transplant, and may influence employment or child custody decisions. This lecture describes the most common pre-analytical variables that affect drug testing result. The importance of timing of specimen collection for drug detection is discussed.

Originally presented November 14, 2011 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Lecture Presenter

Kamisha Johnson-Davis, PhD, DABCC Kamisha Johnson-Davis, PhD, DABCC
Medical Director, Clinical Toxicology Laboratory, ARUP Laboratories
Assistant Professor of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine

Dr. Johnson-Davis is the medical director of the Clinical Toxicology Laboratory at ARUP and an assistant professor of pathology at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Dr. Johnson-Davis received her PhD in pharmacology at the University of Utah and is board certified in clinical chemistry by the American Board of Clinical Chemistry. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship in clinical chemistry at the University of Utah, Department of Pathology, and was a postdoctoral research associate at the Center of Human Toxicology at the University of Utah. Dr. Johnson-Davis is a member of various professional societies, including the Academy of Clinical Laboratory Physicians and Scientists and the American Association for Clinical Chemistry.

Objectives

After this presentation, participants will be able to:

  • Describe the most common pre-analytical variables that affect drug testing results
  • Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different specimens for drug testing
  • Discuss the importance of the timing of specimen collection for drug detection
  • Discuss examples of drugs that are susceptible to various pre-analytical variables

Sponsored by:

University of Utah School of Medicine and ARUP Laboratories