Mayo Clinic Laboratories > Therapeutics > Drug class testing > Stimulants

Stimulants

Enhancing treatment outcomes through targeted testing

Stimulants, or sympathomimetic amines, increase central nervous system activity and can be used to treat and manage attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, and obesity. While some stimulants have pharmacological applications, others are categorized as Scheduled I compounds by the Drug Enforcement Agency and are often sold illicitly and abused. As a result, many professional practice guidelines recommend compliance testing in patients prescribed stimulant medications.

16 million

16 million adults use prescription stimulants in the United States annually1

5.1 million

5.1 million people misused prescription stimulants in 20182

50%

50% reduction in substance misuse when combining clinical urine drug tests with other risk-mitigation strategies3

Stimulant test menu

Targeted screening Targeted screening
Comprehensive monitoring Comprehensive monitoring
Nicotine Nicotine

Targeted screening

Our targeted, high-resolution mass spectrometry screening panel identifies and confirms the presence of 10 stimulants and phencyclidine (PCP) with a single test. Utilizing mass spectrometry in place of traditional immunoassay testing not only increases specificity, but eliminates false positives caused by cross-reactivity with other medications. By reducing the need for additional confirmatory testing, the targeted stimulant screen saves time and money while enabling clinicians to accurately detect stimulant use and monitor compliance.

Key testing

  • TSPU | Targeted Stimulant Screen, Random, Urine
    • Ensures adherence to federal and state regulations by:
      • Monitoring compliance of patients prescribed stimulants.
      • Identifying potential illicit stimulant and PCP use.
    • Identifies and confirms the presence of 10 stimulants and PCP using high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry in situations where immunoassays are not adequate.
    • Reduces the need for additional confirmatory testing.
Download Pharmacokinetics of CNS stimulants
Download Substances that can interfere with simple (immunoassay) screening results

Comprehensive monitoring

Several of our comprehensive profiles include targeted stimulant screening (Mayo ID: TSTIM).

Panel testing

Key testing

Nicotine

As the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States, tobacco use can contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and respiratory illness. Laboratory testing is a powerful tool that helps physicians recognize and treat nicotine dependence. We offer serum and urine testing to identify and monitor nicotine use as part of a patient’s treatment plan. In addition, our testing can be used to confirm nicotine-use cessation before anesthesia or as part of initial insurance policy assessments.

Learn more Nicotine testing
References
  1. Five million American adults misusing prescription stimulants. National Institute on Drug Abuse. April 16, 2018. Accessed March 18, 2021. www.drugabuse.gov/news-events/news-releases/2018/04/five-million-american-adults-misusing-prescription-stimulants.
  2. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2019). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. PEP19-5068, NSDUH Series).
  3. Argoff CE, Kahan M, Sellers EM. Preventing and managing aberrant drug-related behavior in primary care: systematic review of outcomes evidence. J Opioid Manag. 2014;10(2):119–134
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