Umbilical Tox Screen

[MegNeoNurse]

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?

[prmenrs, RN]

Can you cite a reference?

[MegNeoNurse]

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.

[NICURN29]

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

[NeoNurseTX, RN]

I've only seen urine and mec.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Urine only here.

[casper82]

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.

[Sweeper933]

We still do mec / urine here as well

[dawngloves, BSN, RN]

Urine only.

[littleneoRN]

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.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

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....