Methylphenidate Metabolites Quantitative Urine

Test Code

MTHPHN

Quest Code

39409

CPT Codes
80360 (HCPCS: G0480)

Includes

If you require medMATCH for this order code, you must also order code 39158 - Prescribed Drugs, medMATCH®. If 39158 is ordered, all Drug Monitoring order codes will be treated as medMATCH.

If this test code is not ordered with 39158, all medMATCH result codes will be DNR’d.
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Ritalinic Acid

Preferred Specimen

3 mL urine collected in a clinical drug test transport vial

Minimum Volume

2 mL

Other Acceptable Specimens

Urine collected in urine collection container

Transport Temperature

Room temperature

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 5 days
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 30 days

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Preserved samples

Methodology
Mass Spectrometry (MS)

FDA Status
This test was developed and its analytical performance characteristics have been determined by Quest Diagnostics. It has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This assay has been validated pursuant to the CLIA regulations and is used for clinical purposes.

Setup Schedule

Set up: Daily; Report available: 3 days

Reference Range

Ritalinic Acid

<100 ng/mL

Clinical Significance

Methylphenidate is a mild CNS stimulant used to control symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults and children. Ritalin acid is the metabolite of methylphenidate, and its detection is indicative of ingestion of methylphenidate. The test is a definitive assay using liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy (LC/MS/MS) methodology. Therapeutic urine drug monitoring of methylphenidate is important for ensuring compliance to treatment strategies. Urine or oral fluid are the specimens of choice for routine monitoring of patients taking prescription drugs. Use of serum/plasma should be limited to anuretic patients, or where a patient's clinical appearance does not coincide with their prescribed medications. No single monitoring approach provides adequate information about the pattern or dose of patient drug use. Safest prescribing habits should include a combination of tools and laboratory test results to correctly detect drug use patterns. Quantitative values cannot be used to assess the drug dose, because the drug is extensively metabolized and excreted in the urine.

Performing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute
14225 Newbrook Drive
Chantilly, VA 20153

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.