When they do normal blood work do they also screen for drugs and alochol?

Question

I'm getting blood work done for glucose levels tomorrow and i'm taking a steroid for poison ivy, bc i'm allergic and my doctor never said i had to stop taking it. i'm afarid they will think i'm on steroids if they dectect it in my blood, but i don't actually know if they can dectect drugs unless thyey are specifically looking for drugs. thanks!

Answer 1

You should look at the paper orders that the dr gave you for the "normal" blood work. On it they should tell you what they will be testing for. Mostly they only test for what they need and if they were looking for steroids you'd test positive but the dr would know why, because your on them. This would only be a problem if you were being tested for anti-doping for sporting things and even then they would know why you were testing positive. Don't worry I am sure everything will be fine and if not your dr will know why you ended up with a false positive.

Answer 2

No normal blood work up is not used to specifically detect drugs and alcohol

Answer 3

A basic (chem 7) or Comprehensive (chem 12) panel doesn't screen for illicit drugs.

Answer 4

Very good question..as far as I know, you will only be tested for what your doctor calls for and what he has talked over with you..anything else would be an invasion of your privacy and you could sue the pants off everybody for doing unauthorized testing.

Answer 5

You have steroids in your blood naturally.  Steroids testing hasd to be done by a much more specific test than they use for other drugs of abuse, because of this.

Also, the steroid you are taking for inflammation is pharmacologically and chemically different from steroids of abuse.  So even if they did detect it, it wouldn't cause you to be labeled as a steroid abuser.

DK