Best Tests September 2005

Including: CRP and ESR: bpacnz recommendations When a patient complains of drink spiking Changes in the reporting of cervical smear results What should we tell a patient requesting a PSA
Full colour PDF of ‘best tests’ September 2005.  Printer friendly PDF

When a patient complains of drink spiking

Clinicians are increasingly being asked to test for the drugs used in drink spiking and associated drug-assisted sexual assault or “date rape”. Alcohol, gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB, Fantasy), and less frequently Rohypnol, Ketamine and Zopiclone are the commonest drugs implicated. Useful points to remember are:

• Mention the suspicion of drink spiking on the laboratory form.
• Arrange for the samples to be taken as soon as possible. GHB, for example, has a clearance of 8-10 hours, and may be cleared by the time the patient presents.
• Request a blood sample for ethanol.
• Request a random urine sample for GHB, Rohypnol, Ketamine and Zopiclone.
• Advise patients they are able to report the suspected incident to the police for intelligence reasons only, if they prefer.
• Remember that ESR (Enviromental Science and Research) provides methods that can detect some “date rape” drugs in hair and nail samples up to several weeks after the incident.

For more information visit: http://www.aafp.org/afp/20040601/2619.html

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