OSHP Services

The drugs of abuse tested by the Drug Chemistry Section can belong to the following classes of drugs:

• Stimulants – This category of drugs can consist of compounds such as cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, khat and substituted cathinones (bath salts).
• Opioids and Opiates – This category of drugs can consist of prescription drugs namely oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, codeine and methadone. It also includes non-prescription drug such as heroin and fentanyl related compounds.
• Depressants and sedatives – This category of drugs can consist of prescription drugs including alprazolam, diazepam, clonazepam and zolpidem.
• Hallucinogens – This category of drugs can consist of compounds such as LSD, MDMA (Molly or ecstasy), hallucinogenic mushrooms, marihuana and synthetic marihuana (K2 or spice).
• Anabolic steroids – This category of drugs consists of testosterone and other structurally related anabolic steroids.
• Inhalants – Not traditionally considered a class of drugs, gaseous dangerous compounds such as nitrous oxide belong to this category.
• Pharmacophore Compounds – These types of compounds are ones that mimic the structures of compounds such as synthetic cannabinoids, substituted cathinones, and depressants such as alprazolam or diazepam to provide similar effects. These compounds are not approved by the FDA for human consumption.

NOTE: The list of compounds above is not an all-inclusive list of the compounds that are identified by the Drug Chemistry section. Questions about specific drugs should be forwarded to the laboratory.

All testing methods used by the Drug Chemistry Section meet the requirements established by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) for forensic laboratories.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol Drug Chemistry Section utilizes Best Evidence Selected for Testing (BEST) for internal customers only. BEST allows the analysis of the highest penalty item in a case, excludes the lower penalty items, and reduces the turnaround time. If testing is needed on the excluded items, an email should be sent to the laboratory. The excluded items will be tested upon receipt of the email.

• Organic substances including plants and plant material should be dried before submitting them to the laboratory for testing. Wet plants and plant material quickly degrade to a state where identification of the material can be compromised. If non-dried material must be submitted to the laboratory, it is recommended the item be packaged in paper containers to slow the degradation process.
• Quantitative analysis for cannabis and concentrates must be a minimum of 5 grams for cannabis flower and 0.1 gram for concentrate samples. Quantitative analysis is only routinely performed to support potential felony charges.
• Liquids should be submitted in sealed, leak resistant containers. The Drug Chemistry Section cannot identify specific liquids and will only test them for the possible presence of a controlled substance.
• Syringes and other potentially hazardous sharp items must be submitted in puncture resistant packaging. Proper packaging protects personnel when handling these items. Syringes and other hazardous sharp items will not be tested by the Drug Chemistry section if other controlled substance items are also present in the case or if they are contaminated by potentially infectious material such as blood (visible upon inspection).
• Suspected submissions of khat should be marked "khat" on the submission form. Khat's active ingredient cathinone degrades rapidly if the material is not kept frozen. The laboratory will keep all known or suspected khat cases in a frozen state during storage.

Items not properly sealed will need to be corrected before they are accepted and logged into the laboratory.

Qualitative Analysis: Two (2) dissimilar tests, a presumptive test and a confirmation test, are conducted to conclude the presence or absence of the drugs included in the laboratory’s test menu. The laboratory report will reflect the presence of a drug as Positive. (ex. Tramadol Positive) Positive findings are reported ONLY if both dissimilar tests conducted support the same conclusion.

Quantitative Analysis: Two (2) dissimilar tests, a presumptive test and a confirmation test, are conducted to conclude the presence or absence of the drugs included in the laboratory’s test menu. Positive results are quantitatively measured to reflect the amount of drug present. The laboratory report will reflect the name of the drug present and the amount of drug present. A calculated range of uncertainty will accompany all quantitative results. (ex. Cocaine 535.20 ng/mL +/- 37.46 ng/mL). Positive findings are reported ONLY if both dissimilar tests conducted support the same conclusion.

The test menu for this laboratory includes both therapeutic drugs and drugs of abuse. Some of the included drugs and drug classes are:

• Per se drugs (ORC 4511.19)
  • Sympathomimetic Amines (SMA): amphetamine, methamphetamine, etc.
  • Cocaine and Benzoylecgonine (metabolite)
  • Cannabinoids (MJ): parent drug and metabolites
  • Phencyclidine (PCP)
  • 6-mono-acetyl morphine (6MAM): heroin metabolite
• Therapeutic Drugs:
  • Opiates: morphine, codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone
  • Benzodiazepines: diazepam, alprazolam, clonazepam, lorazepam, etc.
  • Buprenorphine (suboxone)
  • Barbiturates: butalbital, phenobarbital, secobarbital
  • Additional analgesics: fentanyl, methadone, tramadol, etc.
  • Muscle Relaxants / Sedatives: Soma, Zolpidem, etc.
  • Anticonvulsant/Nerve pain medication: Gabapentin

For a full list of the drugs included in the test menu for both blood and urine samples, including cutoff levels, please see the Blood and Urine Drug Panel Information quick link.

The laboratory routinely conducts quantitative analyses for the presence of ethanol (drinking alcohol) within biological specimens utilizing headspace gas chromatography. Non-biological specimens such as beverages may be analyzed for the presence of ethanol as well.

This laboratory follows strict guidelines and validated methods to produce legally defensible results for all analyses conducted. The methods utilized meet the standards established by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) for forensic laboratories, as well as the guidelines set forth in the Ohio Administrative Code.

• Synthetic Cannabinoids
• Bath Salts
• “Huffing” cases
• DFSA cases (drug facilitated sexual assault)

Samples requiring these types of analyses should not be sent to this laboratory.

Specimen Selection & Packaging

If possible, submit both urine and blood; both have advantages. ... Read more

Biological Specimen Packaging

• Blood – gray top tubes contain sodium fluoride (preservative; maintain sample integrity) and potassium oxalate (anti-coagulant; prevents clots, sample integrity)
• Urine – add sodium fluoride (preservative; maintain sample integrity)

Label Requirements (OAC 3701-53-05)

1. Name of suspect
2. Date and time of collection
3. Name or initials of person collecting sample
4. Name or initials of person sealing the sample

Contact

Ohio State Highway Patrol Crime Laboratory
1583 Alum Creek Drive
Columbus, Ohio 43209
(614) 466-4790
Fax (614) 728-0451