Test ID: OPATM
Opiate Confirmation, Meconium
Secondary ID
A test code used for billing and in test definitions created prior to November 2011
NY State Approved
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.
Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful
Detection of maternal prenatal opiate/opioid use up to 5 months before birth
Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test
Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Reporting Name
A shorter/abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test; an abbreviated test name
Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching
Dilaudid (Hydromorphone)
Heroin (as Morphine)
Hycodan (Hydrocodone)
Hydrocodone (Hycodan, Vicodin)
Hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Vicodin)
Lortab (Hydromorphone)
Morphine
Opiates
Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percodan)
Vicodin (Hydrocodone)
Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type needed for testing
Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen. This field describes the type of specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing. The volume allows automated processing, fastest throughput and, when indicated, repeat or reflex testing.
Chain-of-custody is recommended for this test. Chain-of-Custody Meconium Kit (Supply T653) is available upon request.
Container/Tube: Stool container (Supply T288)
Specimen Volume: 5 g (approximately 1 tablespoon)
Collection Instructions: Collect entire random meconium specimen.
Additional Information:
1. For chain-of-custody information, see Chain-of-Custody Meconium Kit (Supply T653).
2. Specimen that arrives with a broken seal does not meet the chain-of-custody requirements.
3. The laboratory recommends sending chain-of-custody specimens by overnight shipment.
Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of specimen required to perform an assay once, including instrument and container dead space. Submitting the minimum specimen volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory or perform reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum specimen volume may result in a QNS (quantity not sufficient) result, requiring a second specimen to be collected.
Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected
| Hemolysis | NA |
| Lipemia | NA |
| Icterus | NA |
| Other | Grossly bloody reject; Pink OK |
Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the laboratory. Alternate acceptable temperature(s) are also included.
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Meconium | Frozen (preferred) | 14 days |
| Refrigerated | 24 hours |
Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test
Opiates are naturally occurring alkaloids that are derived from the opium poppy and demonstrate analgesic effects. Opioids are derived from natural and semisynthetic alkaloids of opium or synthetic compounds(1):
-Codeine is a naturally occurring opioid agonist often incorporated into formulations along with acetaminophen or aspirin to increase its analgesic effect.(2) Codeine is metabolized to morphine and subsequently undergoes glucuronidation and sulfation.
-Morphine is an opioid receptor agonist that is used for major pain analgesia.(2) It has been shown to distribute widely into many fetal tissues,(4) and has been detected in meconium.
-Hydrocodone is a semisynthetic analgesic derived from codeine. Hydrocodone is 6 times more potent than codeine and is prescribed for treatment of moderate-to-moderately severe pain.(2) Hydrocodone undergoes O-demethylation in vivo, forming hydromorphone.
-Hydromorphone, a semisynthetic derivative of morphine, is an opioid analgesic. It is 7 to 10 times more potent than morphine, its addiction liability is similar to morphine.(2)
-Oxycodone, a semisynthetic narcotic derived from thebaine. It is metabolized by O-demethylation, forming oxymorphone.(2)
-Oxymorphone is a semisynthetic opioid derivative of thebaine and is indicated for moderate-to-severe pain.(2)
-Heroin, a semisynthetic derivative of morphine, is rapidly deacetylated in vivo to the active metabolite 6-monoacetlymorphine (6-MAM), which is further hydrolyzed to morphine.(2)
Opiates have been shown to readily cross the placenta and distribute widely into many fetal tissues. Opiate use by the mother during pregnancy increases the risk of prematurity and small size for gestational age. Furthermore, heroin-exposed infants exhibit an early onset of withdrawal symptoms compared to methadone-exposed infants. These infants demonstrate a variety of symptoms including irritability, hypertonia, wakefulness, diarrhea, yawning, sneezing, increased hiccups, jitteriness, excessive sucking, and seizures. Long-term intrauterine drug exposure may lead to abnormal neurocognitive and behavioral development as well as an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
The disposition of opiates and opioids in meconium, the first fecal material passed by the neonate, is not well understood. The proposed mechanism is that the fetus excretes drug into bile and amniotic fluid. Drug accumulates in meconium either by direct deposition from bile or through swallowing of amniotic fluid. The first evidence of meconium in the fetal intestine appears at approximately the 10th to 12th week of gestation, and slowly moves into the colon by the 16th week of gestation. Therefore, the presence of drugs in meconium has been proposed to be indicative of in utero drug exposure up to 5 months before birth, a longer historical measure than is possible by urinalysis.
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 LC-MS/MS result.
Cutoff concentrations
Codeine by LC-MS/MS: >50 ng/mL
Hydrocodone by LC-MS/MS: >50 ng/mL
Hydromorphone by LC-MS/MS: >50 ng/mL
Morphine by LC-MS/MS: >50 ng/mL
Oxycodone by LC-MS/MS: >50 ng/mL
Oxymorphone by LC-MS/MS: >50 ng/mL
Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results
The presence of any of the following opiates (codeine, morphine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone, oxymorphone) at > or =50 ng/g or 6-monoacetlymorphine at > or =10 ng/g indicates the newborn was exposed to opiates/opioids during gestation.
Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances
Since the evidence of illicit drug use during pregnancy can be cause for separating the baby from the mother, a kit is available that includes all the materials necessary to complete chain-of-custody to ensure that the test results are appropriate for legal proceedings.
Clinical Reference
Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature
1. Gutstein HB, Akil H: Opioid analgesics. In Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. Edited by LL Brunton, JS Lazo, KL Parker. 11th edition. McGraw-Hill Companies Inc, 2006. Available at URL: www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=940653
2. Baselt RC: Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemical in Man. Edited by RC Baselt. Foster City, CA. Biomedical Publications, 2008, pp 355-360; 730-735; 745-747; 750-752; 1057-1064; 1166-1168; 1470-1171
3. Ostrea EM Jr, Lynn SM, Wayne RN, Stryker JC: Tissue distribution of morphine in the newborns of addicted monkeys and humans. Clinical implications. Dev Pharmacol Ther 1980;1:163-170
4. Szeto HH: Kinetics of drug transfer to the fetus. Clin Obstet Gynecol 1993;36:246-254
5. Kwon TC, Ryan RM: Detection of intrauterine illicit drug exposure by newborn drug testing. National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry. Clin Chem 1997;43:235-242
6. Ostrea EM Jr, Brady MJ, Parks PM, et al: Drug screening of meconium in infants of drug-dependent mothers: an alternative to urine testing. J Pediatr 1989;115:474-477
7. Ahanya SN, Lakshmanan J, Morgan BL, Ross MG: Meconium passage in utero: mechanisms, consequences, and management. Obstet Gynecol Surv 2005;60:45-56
Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference
Meconium is mixed with internal standard and broken down with acetic acid. The sample is then extracted with methanol and further processed by solid-phase extraction. The extract is analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).(Unpublished Mayo method)
Day(s) and Time(s) Test Performed
Outlines the days and times the test is performed. This field reflects the day and time the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time required before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means assays are performed several times during the day.
Monday through Friday, Sunday; Varies
Analytic Time
Defines the amount of time it takes the laboratory to setup and perform the test. This is defined in number of days. The shortest interval of time expressed is "same day/1 day," which means the results may be available the same day that the sample is received in the testing laboratory. One day means results are available 1 day after the sample is received in the laboratory.
Maximum Laboratory Time
Defines the maximum time from specimen receipt at Mayo Medical Laboratories until the release of the test result
Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded
Performing Laboratory Location
The location of the laboratory that performs the test
Test Classification
Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer's instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR), Investigation Use Only (IUO) product, or a Research Use Only (RUO) product.
CPT Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Medical Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.
83925
LOINC® Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the result codes returned for this test or profile.
| Result ID | Reporting Name | LOINC Code |
|---|---|---|
| 31848 | Morphine | 26860-7 |
| 31850 | Oxymorphone | In Process |
| 31849 | Hydromorphone | 26862-3 |
| 31847 | Codeine | 26865-6 |
| 31852 | Oxycodone | 26869-8 |
| 31851 | Hydrocodone | 26863-1 |
| 31868 | Interpretation | 69050-3 |
| 31869 | Chain of Custody | In Process |


