Umbilical Tox Screen

Specialties NICU

Published

Specializes in PICU, ICU, Transplant, Trauma, Surgical.

Is anyone using umbilical tissue for tox screens in their unit? I've been hearing alot about this in various journals.

We currently are using meconium and urine for tox screening. I've heard that meconium tox testing is a thing of the past in these journals.

What does YOUR unit do?

Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

Can you cite a reference?

Specializes in PICU, ICU, Transplant, Trauma, Surgical.
Can you cite a reference?

Montgomery, D., Plate, C., Alder, SC., Jones, M., Jones, J., and Christensen, RD. (2006). Testing for fetal exposure to illicit drugs using umbilical cord tissue vs meconium. Journal of Perinatology, 26, 11-14.

Specializes in NICU.

We definitely still do urine and mec screens. We actually do mec screens rarely...urine screens are more often done here.

Specializes in NICU Level III.

I've only seen urine and mec.

Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

Urine only here.

Specializes in level 2 nursery.

Just returned from a conference where Douglas Lewis of US Drug Testing lab said umbilical testing will be here soon. They have already started doing some testing back east. The 5 drug panels were available Oct 2007, the 7,9,12 became available 2nd and 3rd quarter 2008, and EtOH will be available late 2008. Should be coming along soon. We still do mec and urine.

Specializes in NICU.

We still do mec / urine here as well

Urine only.

Specializes in NICU.

We do both mec and urine. In my understanding, the urine clears of the drug sooner so only represents very recent usage by the mother, but the mec can show evidence of abuse from longer ago. Hence our reason for always doing both if a screen is indicated.

Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.
We do both mec and urine. In my understanding, the urine clears of the drug sooner so only represents very recent usage by the mother, but the mec can show evidence of abuse from longer ago. Hence our reason for always doing both if a screen is indicated.

This is why I wish we'd do mec screens....but alas, we just check the pee....

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