Injection Drug Use Workup

Updated: Apr 19, 2022
  • Author: Hammad Khan, MD, MPH; Chief Editor: Glen L Xiong, MD  more...
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Workup

Laboratory Studies

The following lab tests may be useful when performing workup in persons who inject drugs (PWID):

  • Comprehensive metabolic panel

  • CBC count with differential

  • Hepatitis B surface antigen and surface antibody

  • Hepatitis C antibody

  • Rapid plasma reagent (RPR) test

  • HIV serum antibody test (performed in 2 steps, with a screening test such as the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] and a confirmatory test such as the Western blot)

  • Purified protein derivative (PPD) test

  • Urine screen for common drugs of abuse

Other tests

An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a rapidly available clinical tool that can help clinicians manage patients who overdose.