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CHSS Biomedical Laboratory
The Biomedical Service (BMS) processes over 3,300 urine and blood samples a year, testing for the presence of seven of the most commonly used drugs-of-abuse in urine samples (the test require 1 millilitre of urine).These Drugs are amphetamine, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, methadone, opioids and cannabis (THC). Additionally, a creatinine measurement is carried out in all samples to check for possible signs of sample-tampering. Creatinine readings are also a valuable parameter to check upon a service users kidney functionality (an important parameter during drugs and alcohol detoxification).
The BMS plays an important role in service user management and compliance control. Urine testing is performed not only to screen service users on their day of admission to the centres (to find out the appropriate pharmacological therapy if required) but also during their entire stay to check for compliance with the programme objectives (for example, some service users are given methadone or benzodiazepines and these two drugs should appear in the analysis). Urine sampling is carried out daily by a member of staff at the centre and samples are then shipped out to the laboratory at the University of Kent. Normally an average of 15 samples are analysed per day, leading to a total of over 3,300 samples in one year (data obtained from 2008). Drugs-of-abuse analysis is performed using a state-of-the-art instrument that provides semi-quantitative concentrations of drugs and their metabolites in urine. Creatinine levels are then used to correct for any dilution effect. Samples are processed and results sent back to the centres within 24 hours.
In addition to providing an immediate feedback of client results to the centres, a helpdesk is available 5 days a week during office-hours, for social service staff who may have a query about the results or wish to discuss the clinical relevance of the results. The response time for the helpdesk is generally within 24 hours.
The laboratory also offers nutritional biomarker testing (liver function tests, pre-albumin, vitamins, amino acids, neuroactive tryptophan metabolites and melatonin). The laboratory meets exacting the UK National Quality External Assessment Standards.
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