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Interpretive Handbook

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Test 80371:
Phencyclidine Confirmation, Urine

Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Phencyclidine (PCP) is a drug of abuse. This compound affects diverse neural pathways and interacts with cholinergic, adrenergic, GABA-secreting, serotoninergic, opiate neuronal receptors, and gamma receptors. It has analgesic, anesthetic, and stimulatory effects, giving 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 screen. PCP is excreted in the urine.

Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Detection of drug abuse involving phencyclidine (angel dust, or angel hair)

Interpretation Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

The presence of phencyclidine (PCP) in urine at concentrations >10 ng/mL is a strong indicator that the patient has used PCP.

Cautions Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

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

 

For chain-of-custody information, see COCH/9426 Chain-of-Custody Processing.

Reference Values Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

Negative

Positives are reported with a quantitative GC-MS result.

Cutoff concentrations

Immunoassay screen: <25 ng/mL

Phencyclidine by GC-MS: <10 ng/mL

Clinical References Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Baselt RC, Cravey RH: Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemicals in Man. Third edition. Chicago, Year Book Medical Publishers, 1989

2. Schuster DI, Arnold FJ, Murphy RB: Purification, pharmacological characterization and photoaffinity labeling of sigma receptors from rat and bovine brain. Brain Res 1995;670:14-28

3. Bayorh MA, Zokowska-Grojec A, Palkovits M, Kopin IJ: Effect of phencyclidine (PCP) on blood pressure and catecholamine levels in discrete brain nuclei. Brain Res 1984;321:315-318