Submission Info for clinical & forensic toxicology samples

Toxicology Request Form

Please call the Analytical Toxicology Laboratory at 6213 0740 for a request form.

The following information is required:

• Hospital/clinic name & address.

• Name and identification number of the subject.

• Brief clinical history.

• Specimen type.

• Drugs/poisons suspected and test(s) requested.

• Requestor name and signature.

• For medico-legal/police cases: police division and report number.

Specimen requirements

• Blood: at least 4 ml in heparinised (green cap) blood tubes
  
  Note: for blood alcohol tests, do not use alcohol swabs to sterilise the area to be punctured.

• Urine: at least 15 ml in sterile containers without preservatives

• Gastric aspirate: at least 10 ml in sterile containers without preservatives

Labelling and sealing

• Specimens must be clearly labelled with the name and identification number of the subject.

• Containers must be sealed for medico-legal cases, for the evidence to be legally defensible in court.

Note: The seal must not cover the specimen label.

Storage requirements

Keep specimens refrigerated if they are not dispatched immediately.

Where to submit

Analytical Toxicology Laboratory
Clinical and Forensic Toxicology Unit
Level 3, Health Sciences Authority
11 Outram Road
Singapore 169078

Operating hours

Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays 

8:00 am to 12:00 pm
1:00 pm to 5:00 pm (4:30 pm on Fridays)

Rejection criteria

• Container leaks

• Contaminated request forms

• Unlabelled containers

• Labels not tallying with submitted forms

• Illegible or damaged labels

• Tests not available

Turnaround time

You can get a formal report typically within 7 - 28 days of submission, depending on the analyses requested.

For more information

Please call the Analytical Toxicology Laboratory at 6213 0740.