Some women abuse drugs during pregnancy, which can affect the fetus. A variety of alternative specimens can be tested to identify a woman who has abused drugs during a pregnancy.
This can be also be used to detect nicotine metabolites.
Testing is done:
(1) to confirm a positive urine drug test
(2) when a neonate shows signs of drug withdrawal
Alternative specimens may include:
(1) meconium
(2) umbilical cord
(3) maternal hair
(4) neonatal hair
(5) amniotic fluid
(6) placental tissue
All of these will provide lookback for drug use over a prolonged period. Maternal or cord blood on the other hand would only detect very recent use
Alternative Specimen
Disadvantages
meconium
difficult to analyze, may be difficult to collect
umbilical cord
maternal hair
blind to blood use in week prior to collection, claim can be made that drug use was before the pregnancy
neonatal hair
blind to blood use in week prior to collection, some may object to removing hair from newborn
placental tissue
difficult to work with compared to alternatives
If the results will be used as evidence in court:
(1) the specimen must be handled with chain of evidence
(2) the specimen must be accepted in local courts
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