how long does it take to do a toxology exam? I mean it takes a few minutes t o complete a drug screen ...

Answer 1

That's right, the actual toxicology test takes only a few minutes. A consent will be signed beforehand. Usually blood and urine sample will be taken. Usually, the entire time of stay to complete the process will appproximately be half an hour at maximum or less. But a FOLLOW TEST maybe required on another scheduled appointment for testing.

Collection of urine maybe done at home however if the test is done for a suspected drug abuse, you need to collect it at the testing center (you will probably be watched while collecting and your urine sample temperature will be checked to be sure it is fresh.

Blood collection takes just a minute or two. In rare circumstances, a saliva, sweat, and stomach contents may be checked as well.Some
times a 24-hour collection of urine will be needed. For testing for abused drug,routine URINE and BLOOD tests are mainly carried out.

The initial testing will test for the presence of certain drugs in your system. FOLLOW UP test maybe required to check out the levels of the certain drugs found. At least two testing methods will be used to confirm the results. That will complete the drug screening processes and you will have the result in few days.

Be sure to tell the doctor of any medications (prescription and nonprescription), herbal supplements, vitamins, and other substances you have taken or taking in the past 4 days.

Answer 2

For toxicology results it depends on what is the action taken to need one i.e. DUI MVA no survivors, accidental death causes, hospice care from break through medication (managing one's pain in their final days), overdoses, etc. Toxicology in autopsy's take 6 weeks for an answer. Preserving tissue is vital.

For drug screens which require a Chem 7 blood draw + urine required for proper screening results. That takes one hour or longer to be done. We usually ask the pt if he can pee in the urinal (clean catch method) or if the pt cannot as in unconscious then extraction is by IN/Out Cath method.

Its assessioned, tagged for proper identification of specimens then sent up in a specimen bag for stat processing. It takes one hour to process + results entered in the main server by the computer or personnel trained in the lab. Most results must be called in verbally to the ER doctor or ER Nurse.

Often the wait in an ER is long if more tests need to be done. The standard time in any ED is an average of three hours. Why? Xrays, CT's, MRI's, etc require someone to read them and decipher what they show.

As a N.A. you must know your patients needs at all times. The action in an ER is intense + fast paced, keep up and you can learn allot from them just by watching them. I enjoy all aspects of learning how things work together for a patients benefit. Explain to them what is going on and reassure the pt's family that everything in reason is being done at that time.

Be a caring individual. You'd be better for it for thier sake. Smile. Communicate with the Nurses they are there for you to help you and be ready to assist with current information. Or past visits if its in the primary records. Thanks.