Frequency of clinical toxicology test-ordering (primarily overdose cases) and results in a large urban general hospital.

We report one year’s analytical data from a clinical toxicology laboratory of a large urban hospital. The laboratory was designed to perform tests on seriously ill patients believed to be suffering from possible drug overdose. The data describe the types and numbers of tests requested and percent positive. Barbiturates, ethanol, a “hypnotic screen,” phenothiazines, and salicylates were the leading requests and positive findings among the 63 drug determinations studied. The mechanism of organizing a laboratory along “patient-focused” lines is described and the clinician-laboratory interface is discussed. We believe that these data could be of value to anyone contemplating offering a clinical toxicology service for the first time or in assisting in the reorganization of their present service.