Toxicology TestsTest Overview
A toxicology test checks blood or urine for
the presence of drugs. In rare cases, stomach contents, sweat, or saliva may
also be checked. Drugs can be accidentally or deliberately
swallowed, inhaled, injected, or absorbed through a skin surface or
mucous membrane. These include prescription medicines,
nonprescription medicine (such as aspirin or acetaminophen), vitamins,
nutritional supplements, alcohol, and illegal drugs, such as cocaine and
heroin. A toxicology test may check for one specific drug or for
up to 30 different drugs at once. Testing is often done on a urine sample
instead of blood, because urine tests are usually easier to do than blood tests
and many drugs show up in the urine. Also, traces of a drug may remain in urine
for longer than in blood.
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