Specimen Collection
Adults: Casual urine
Paediatric: minimum 1 mL urine, 3 mL preferred
Test not available outside normal working hours Monday to Friday.
Diagnostic Use and Interpretation
The principle urinary metabolite of methylphenidate is an inactive metabolite called ritalinic acid. 80% of a dose of methylphenidate is metabolised to ritalinic acid in a 24 hour period.
Methylphenidate is used for the treatment of depression, narcolepsy and attention deficient hyperactivity syndrome.
The drug is known to be abused. The pharmacologic effects are the same as those of the amphetamines. Intranasal abuse has been reported to give effects similar to cocaine due to the rapid release of synaptic dopamine.
Contact Information
The chemical pathology team
can be reached via email:
chemicalpathologist@adhb.govt.nz
or via Lablink (09) 307 4949 ext 22000 or 09-3078995
Emails will receive priority attention from the on-call chemical pathologist. Include the patients NHI.
After-hours: contact
Lablink (Auckland City Hospital ext. 22000 or 09-3078995) or hospital operator for on duty staff after hours
.
Specimen Transport Instructions for Referring Laboratories
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Specimen Collection
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Patient Specimen
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5 mL urine
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Paediatric Specimen
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1 mL urine
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Sample Delivery to Labplus
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On ice or ambient
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