Drugs of Abuse Screen (Urine) (Urine Drug Screen)
Drugs of abuse testing in urine, is provided on a non-urgent basis by the laboratory for the most commonly requested compounds: amphetamines, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, cocaine, opiates and methadone (EDDP, a metabolite for methadone is also tested). The majority of samples received are for monitoring compliance with treatment replacement or abstention in the community setting.
The initial screening assay and the confirmation report qualitative results. Cut offs for all tests are based on the European Workplace Testing Guidelines (EWTG).
The screening tests for opiates and amphetamines are not specific for drugs of abuse and can give positive results in patients who have taken over the counter or prescribed medications. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is used to confirm positive screening results for opiates and amphetamines.
The test may be requested to identify illicit drug abuse, intentional or inadvertent ingestion of prescription or over-the-counter medication.
These tests are semiquantitative and are reported as positive or negative. The thresholds for reporting are from the European Workplace Drug Testing Society Guidelines 2022:
Amphetamines: 500 µg/L
Cannabinoids: 50 µg/L
Cocaine: 150 µg/L
Benzodiazepines: 200 µg/L
Methadone: 300 µg/L
EDDP (Methadone Metabolite): 100 µg/L
Opiates: 300 µg/L
Routine profile includes opiates, amphetamines, methadone, methadone metabolite, cocaine, cannabis and benzodiazepines.
Samples positive for amphetamines and/or opiates are sent to a referral laboratory by confirmation by mass spectrometry.
The pH of each sample is measured and samples with pH <4 or >9 are rejected. Samples are also visually inspected for signs of adulteration.
UKAS Accredited.
This test is UKAS accredited
Record last updated
August 18, 2025
Sample Container
150ml Universal Container for Urine TB (Silver top)
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Test Results
Yes, we have a Pathology User Guide
Yes. Please email your request to Imperial.nwlpcustomerservice@nhs.net
Results are communicated to clinical staff and are normally not communicated direct to patients either on telephone requests or in written report. If you need to contact us please click here to view the contact details page
Please contact the Customer Service Team Monday to Friday from 8:30am – 6:00pm on 0203 313 5353. Alternatively, see the Pathology User Guide for how to contact the relevant department. If advice is not urgent you can also email your query to Imperial.nwlpcustomerservice@nhs.net
Additional tests may be added by discussion with the relevant laboratory. The time limit for adding additional tests to a sample already received in the laboratory will depend on the type of sample and the department it was sent to.
Information on the repertoire of tests performed by pathology, including reference ranges, turnaround times and specimen requirements, can be found in the test directory.
Different tests have different sample stability requirements. If a comment on results indicates that the sample was delayed, the links below will indicate which tests may have been affected. This information is for serum or plasma samples.
For some tests, the impact of delay is consistent and these are marked with an arrow:
↑ indicates tests where delayed centrifugation results in falsely elevated results and the true level is likely lower than that reported.
↓ indicates tests where delayed centrifugation results in falsely lowered results and the true level is likely higher than that reported.
If there is no arrow, the true level may be lower or higher than reported.
Please interpret results with caution and consider the impact of any uncertainty.
The comment on the report will state how delayed the sample was. Please click the relevant link below to see which other tests may have been affected.
| >8h | >12h | >24h | >48h | >72h |
Phlebotomy services are not managed by NWLP. For further information please see:
Imperial College Healthcare Trust Phlebotomy services
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Phlebotomy services
NWLP operates UKAS accredited medical laboratories as per the references below. The current scope of accreditation for all NWLP’s laboratories can be found on the UKAS website.
UKAS accredited medical laboratory/medical diagnostic service:
- Clinical Biochemistry No. 8673
- Haematology and Blood Transfusion No. 8674
- Infection & Immunity Sciences (Including Immunology, Virology, Microbiology and Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics ) No. 8659
- Cellular Pathology (Including Histopathology, Cytology and Molecular Pathology) No. 9615
If you require copies of our certificate of accreditation and associated documentation please contact Imperial.nwlpcustomerservice@nhs.net.
UKAS requires the laboratories to be accredited for a particular repertoire/scope (ISO15189), any changes or additions to repertoire require assessment by UKAS (extension to scope).
The BD Hospital Tube Guide, BD GP Tube Guide and BD Paediatric Tube Guide provide visual references to the correct tube types and collection instructions.
Home testing
INSTRUCTION SHEET FOR BLOOD SAMPLE COLLECTION
We also have two instruction videos available (one with subtitles and one without) – please click on the links to view the videos on Google.
Our accreditations
Upholding excellence in diagnostic standards
Our laboratories are accredited by the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) against the international standard ISO15189:2022. UKAS is the accreditation body for the UK that assesses medical laboratories.
Find out more about our accreditations on the UKAS website.
UKAS website