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Test Code PCPX Phencyclidine Confirmation, Chain of Custody, Random, Urine

Useful For

Detection of drug abuse involving phencyclidine (street names: angel dust, hog, or angel hair) in urine specimens handled through the chain-of-custody process

 

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 always under the control of personnel involved with testing the specimen; this control implies that the opportunity for specimen tampering would be limited.

Additional Tests

Test ID Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
COCH Chain of Custody Processing No Yes
ADLTX Adulterants Survey, CoC, U Yes Yes

Testing Algorithm

Testing for adulterants will be performed on all chain-of-custody urine samples per regulatory requirements.

Reporting Name

Phencyclidine Confirmation, CoC, U

Specimen Type

Urine


Ordering Guidance


This test is for situations that require the chain-of-custody process. For testing not requiring chain of custody, order PCPU / Phencyclidine Confirmation, Random, Urine.



Specimen Required


Supplies: Chain of Custody Kit (T282)

Container/Tube: Chain-of-Custody Kit containing the specimen containers, seals, and required documentation.

Specimen Volume: 10 mL

Collection Instructions: Collect specimen in the container provided, seal, and submit with the associated documentation to satisfy the legal requirements for chain-of-custody testing.


Specimen Minimum Volume

5 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Urine Refrigerated (preferred) 14 days
  Frozen  14 days
  Ambient  72 hours

Reject Due To

Gross hemolysis OK
Gross icterus OK

Clinical Information

Phencyclidine (PCP) is a drug of abuse. This compound affects diverse neural pathways and interacts with cholinergic, adrenergic, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-secreting, serotoninergic, opiate neuronal receptors, and gamma receptors. It has analgesic, anesthetic, and stimulatory effects, yielding bizarre behavior, ranging from depression through catatonia, euphoria, violent rage, and hallucinations. Most fatalities result from its hypertensive effect.

 

Diagnosis of PCP usage depends on drug screening. PCP is excreted in the urine.

 

Chain of custody is a record of the disposition of a specimen to document the personnel who collected, handled, and performed the analysis. When a specimen is submitted in this manner, analysis will be performed in such a way that it will withstand regular court scrutiny.

Reference Values

Negative

 

Positive results are reported with a quantitative gas chromatography mass spectrometry result.

 

Cutoff concentrations

IMMUNOASSAY SCREEN

<25 ng/mL

 

PHENCYCLIDINE BY GC-MS

<10 ng/mL

Interpretation

The presence of phencyclidine (PCP) in urine is a strong indicator that the patient has used PCP.

Cautions

Urine phencyclidine (PCP) may be undetectable at alkaline pH. Urine pH must, therefore, always be recorded.

Clinical Reference

1. Baselt RC. Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemical in Man. 12th ed. Biomedical Publications; 2020.

2. Langman LJ, Bechtel LK, Holstege CP. Clinical toxicology. In: Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, Burnham CAD, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2023:chap 43

Method Description

The phencyclidine assay is based on the kinetic interaction of microparticles in a solution (KIMS) as measured by changes in light transmission. In the absence of sample drug, soluble drug conjugates bind to antibody-bound microparticles, causing the formation of particle aggregates. As the aggregation reaction proceeds in the absence of sample drug, the absorbance increases. When a urine sample contains the drug in question, this drug competes with the drug derivative conjugate for microparticle-bound antibody. Antibody bound to sample drug is no longer available to promote particle aggregation, and subsequent particle lattice formation is inhibited. The presence of sample drug diminishes the increasing absorbance in proportion to the concentration of drug in the sample. Sample drug content is determined relative to the value obtained for a known cutoff concentration of drug.(Package insert: PCP. Roche Diagnostics; V 13.0, 09/2021)

 

The specimen is then analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for confirmation with quantitation.(Unpublished Mayo method)

Day(s) Performed

Tuesday, Thursday

Report Available

3 to 7 days

Specimen Retention Time

14 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

83992

G0480 (if appropriate)

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
PCPX Phencyclidine Confirmation, CoC, U 16254-5

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
6672 Phencyclidine Immunoassay Screen 19659-2
36229 Phencyclidine-by GC/MS 16254-5
36230 Phencyclidine Interpretation 69050-3
36231 Chain of Custody 77202-0

Method Name

Immunoassay/Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) Confirmation with Quantitation

Forms

1. Chain of Custody Request is included in the Chain of Custody Kit (T282).

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

Secondary ID

62739