DRUG ANALYSIS FOR CONTROL PURPOSES IN FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY, WORKPLACE TESTING, SPORTS MEDICINE AND RELATED AREAS

This MiniReview describes the present guidelines for drug testing in f orensic toxicology, workplace testing and doping control of athletes. Such guidelines are established to secure the chain of custody, from s ample collection through analysis with screening, confirmation methods and interpretation, to the final report of results. Specifications fo r good laboratory practice, facility maintenance and quality assurance programs are described. The advantages and limitation of immunologica l drug assays and the necessity of specific chromatographic confirmati on methods are discussed. Tle importance of correct interpretation of positive test results is illustrated. The effect of drug testing on th e prevalence of drug abuse, accident rates and effectivity at the work place is discussed.