Confirmatory
drug testing
A basic immunoassay is a starting point. Definitive testing can help resolve unexpected positive or negative screens, distinguishing targeted substances from compounds that may cross-react.
LCMS TOXICOLOGY · NATIONWIDE
Greater clarity.
More informed care.
PPC Laboratory specializes in LCMS toxicology, helping clinicians understand drug exposure and make informed treatment decisions.
Connect with PPCBased in Phoenix. Serving nationwide.
mass spectrometryLCMS
Serving patients covered by all payers including Workers’ Compensation, Medicare, Private Insurance
OUR EXPERTISE
From a screening result
to a clearer clinical picture.
Liquid chromatography separates compounds in a specimen. Mass spectrometry helps identify specific drugs and their metabolites, bringing greater specificity to clinical toxicology.
Confirmatory
Drugs-of-abuse
testing
Targeted testing can identify opioids, cocaine, amphetamines and selected synthetic drugs. Detection depends on the ordered panel, specimen and timing; no single screen detects every substance.
Therapeutic drug
monitoring
For medications with established therapeutic ranges, measuring levels in blood, serum or plasma helps clinicians balance effectiveness and toxicity. This is distinct from urine-based adherence testing.
CHRONIC PAIN & PATIENT SAFETY
A more complete view
of medication use.
Long-term opioid and controlled-substance therapy requires an ongoing conversation about benefit, risk and medication use. Definitive toxicology adds objective information to that conversation.
Assess treatment
adherence
Drug and metabolite patterns help clinicians assess whether results are consistent with prescribed therapy. Metabolites provide context about how the body has processed a medication.
Unusual patterns, including a parent drug without expected metabolites, may warrant a discussion about collection, timing, metabolism or possible specimen manipulation. A result alone does not prove misuse or establish the dose taken.
Recognize potentially
dangerous combinations
Unexpected opioids, benzodiazepines or illicit substances can signal a need to reassess safety. Combining opioids with other central nervous system depressants increases the risk of respiratory depression and overdose.
Results can guide a supportive patient conversation, a medication review and further evaluation when a substance use disorder is a concern.
Clarify unexpected
screening results
Routine opiate immunoassays may miss drugs such as oxycodone, buprenorphine or fentanyl unless dedicated assays are included. Cross-reacting medications can also produce misleading positive screens.
Appropriate definitive testing helps clarify these findings before consequential treatment decisions, supporting both patient safety and the patient–provider relationship.
CLINICAL CONTEXT
The right information.
At the right point in care.
Medication monitoring
When clinically indicated, blood-based therapeutic drug monitoring helps evaluate drug exposure against a medication’s therapeutic range. Collection timing, organ function and other medications all matter when interpreting a level.
Before anesthesia or a procedure
A clear medication and substance-use history helps the care team assess interactions and respiratory or cardiovascular risks. Selectively ordered toxicology may inform planning; the clinician determines testing needs from the patient’s history and planned procedure.
Clinical results are one part of the picture. Test selection, specimen type, collection timing and the patient’s history guide their meaning.
ABOUT PPC & CONTACT
Specialized science.
A direct connection.
PPC Laboratory is based in Phoenix, Arizona, with a dedicated focus on LCMS toxicology. We serve workers’ compensation, Medicare and private insurance nationwide.
Connect with our team to discuss testing needs, available panels, specimen requirements and insurance questions.
CALL US480-992-4224EMAIL USinfo@ppclaboratory.com
ADDRESS1850 N. Central Avenue, Suite 1015
Phoenix, AZ 85004-4509
Phoenix, AZ 85004-4509