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Test Code THCMX 11-nor-Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol-9-Carboxylic Acid (Carboxy-THC) Confirmation, Chain of Custody, Meconium

Useful For

Detecting in utero drug exposure up to 5 months before birth

 

Chain of custody is required whenever the results of testing could be used in a court of law. Its purpose is to protect the rights of the individual contributing the specimen by demonstrating that it was under the control of personnel involved with testing the specimen at all times; this control implies that the opportunity for specimen tampering would be limited. Since the evidence of illicit drug use during pregnancy can be cause for separating the baby from the mother, a complete chain of custody ensures that the test results are appropriate for legal proceedings.

Additional Tests

Test ID Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
COCH Chain of Custody Processing No Yes

Reporting Name

Carboxy-THC Confirmation, CoC, M

Specimen Type

Meconium


Shipping Instructions


The laboratory recommends sending chain-of-custody specimens by overnight shipment.



Specimen Required


Supplies: Chain-of-Custody Meconium Kit (T653) includes the specimen containers, seals, and documentation required.

Specimen Volume: 1 g (approximately 1 teaspoon)

Collection Instructions: Collect entire random meconium specimen.

Additional Information: Specimens that arrive with a broken seal do not meet the chain of custody requirements.


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.3 g (approximately 1/4 teaspoon)

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Meconium Frozen (preferred) 28 days
  Refrigerated  21 days
  Ambient  14 days

Reject Due To

Grossly bloody Reject; Pink OK
Stool
Diapers
Reject

Reference Values

Negative

Positives are reported with a quantitative liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry result.

Cutoff concentration: 5 ng/g

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Sunday

Report Available

2 to 3 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information

80349

G0480 (if appropriate)

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
THCMX Carboxy-THC Confirmation, CoC, M 69007-3

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
36305 Carboxy-THC 69007-3
36306 Interpretation 69050-3
36307 Chain of Custody 77202-0

NY State Approved

Yes

Method Name

Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Forms

1. Chain of Custody Request is included in the Chain-of-Custody Meconium Kit (T653).

2. If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Therapeutics Test Request (T831) with the specimen.