Blood Drug Testing

Is it possible to test positive for drug use from a blood sample?

I went in to the doctors today because my chest was hurting and they did a heart scan type thing and afterwards they took some blood samples from my arm. I was not aware that they were going to take blood from me. This wasn't a drug test but can they still detect drug use from that blood sample?

Public Comments

1. yes
2. Yes, if that is what they are testing for. Blood tests are more accurate than urine.
3. That is a no brainer. What do you think carries drugs through your system? Your blood! It'd probably be easier to detect it in your blood (before it's gone through your kidneys) than from a urine test. They, however, were probably not checking specifically for drugs but enzymes that are present when a heart attack occurs. I wouldn't worry about it unless your Dr. suspects drugs because he'd have to specifiy which drugs to test for, etc.
4. The most commonly tested tissues are urine, blood, saliva, hair fingernails, and if you count alcohol, breath. But it is unethical to test for illicit substances without your knowledge or permission when body fluids are given freely for other purposes, such as a a screening health exam or a pregnancy test.
5. if they tested for drugs, yes
6. In theory they could, but the answer you get depends on the questions you ask, and that isn't what they wanted the blood for. If they were wondering about use of cocaine or amphetamines, common reasons for chest pain/heart disease these days, they'd have (1) asked and (2) perhaps chosen to do a urine drug screen. The blood tests done after the scan were probably for a panel of cardiac markers like troponin levels and probably a few other mundane tests. Different doctors approach this area differently, but my personal method is to ask about drug use. If you lie about cocaine and then drop dead of a heart attack, it's no skin off my teeth. At the same time, if you've smoked a little weed, and the chest pain is from that, I'll just tell you you're an idiot and leave it at that. After all, I'm there to help, not to be your mother.