Üsküdar University’s Advanced Toxicology Analysis Laboratory is a high-tech diagnostic and research center that performs the identification, detection, and quantitative analysis of toxic and addictive substances in biological samples in accordance with international accreditation standards. It contributes with a high degree of accuracy to the prevention and monitoring of substance use, as well as to treatment processes.
What is the Advanced Toxicology Analysis Laboratory? / What is Its Purpose?
Main Objective: The primary objective of our laboratory is to perform the identification, detection, and precise quantitative analysis of all toxic and addictive substances. In this regard, it aims to provide evidence-based medical data for the prevention of drug use and clinical addiction treatment, while continuously improving its international collaborations and physical and technical infrastructure in alignment with European Union (EU) standards.
Key Features: Our laboratory has been accredited under TS/EN ISO 17025 since 24 June 2016, with accreditation number AB-1024-T. It is also an official member of the internationally recognized CAP (The College of American Pathologists) External Quality Assessment Program. Every testing process conducted in our laboratory is validated in full compliance with TS/EN ISO 17025 and CAP requirements. In addition, blind external quality control samples provided by CAP every three months are successfully analyzed, ensuring a dual quality control mechanism.
Academic Contribution and Analytical Assurance: Within the scope of the NPGRUP Laboratories Quality Control Program, our laboratory operates according to the principle that "We cannot improve what we cannot measure." Preventing systematic analytical errors and keeping potential random errors below internationally acceptable limits are among our laboratory's primary responsibilities. This rigorous infrastructure is supported by a specialized biochemistry technical team with expertise in toxicology, providing a high level of assurance for clinical and academic research.
Equipment and Technical Infrastructure Available in the Laboratory
The following state-of-the-art equipment, regarded as the gold standard in the field, is used in the laboratory for the quantitative verification of trace amounts of toxic compounds and addictive substances in biological materials:
- Waters XEVO TQD UPLC-MS/MS System: A system combining ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), enabling highly sensitive quantitative analysis of drugs and toxic substances in urine and other biological matrices.
- "Drug Screening" Basic Biochemical Analysis Stations: Screening modules configured to coordinate routine biochemical services and rapid screening tests.
- Sample Preparation and Extraction Units: Centrifuges, evaporators, and solid-phase extraction (SPE) systems that enable the high-purity isolation of drug compounds from complex biological matrices such as blood, urine, and hair samples.
- Legal Waste Management and Storage Equipment: Cold-chain storage units that ensure biological samples, after the completion of their legally required retention period following analysis, are safely stored until they are officially transferred to medical waste disposal facilities in accordance with applicable regulations and documented procedures.
Research and Application Areas
The primary biochemical and toxicological applications and analyses conducted within the laboratory in accordance with TS/EN ISO 17025 standards include:
- Quantitative Analysis of Addictive Substances: Identification and quantitative measurement of addictive substances such as opiates, amphetamine-type substances, cannabis (cannabinoids), synthetic cannabinoids (e.g., bonzai), alcohol, and cocaine using specialized analyzers.
- Multiple Biological Matrix Analysis: Analytical detection of drugs in blood, urine, and hair samples from individuals with substance use disorders and individuals in high-risk groups.
- Dual Quality Control and Validation: Implementation of routine internal quality control procedures that enable self-assessment of laboratory services, alongside CAP external quality control urine tests conducted every three months to provide international benchmarking.
- Waste Management in Compliance with Legal Regulations: Samples for which testing has been completed and the legally required retention period has expired are transferred to medical waste disposal systems under official documentation, in compliance with environmental and biosafety protocols.
Contributions to Students and the Industry
- Internationally Accredited Reporting Competence: Test results generated by the laboratory under TS/EN ISO 17025 and CAP quality assurance provide the healthcare sector and clinical medicine with internationally recognized analytical reports with established diagnostic reliability.
- Direct Support for Psychiatry and Addiction Treatment: To improve the mental health of society, emerging treatment approaches in psychiatry are supported through reliable and rapid toxicological data provided by the laboratory.
- Opportunities for Error Reduction and Improvement: Through the dual quality control mechanism, corrective and preventive actions are immediately initiated whenever potential nonconformities are identified. This promotes a culture of continuous improvement in analytical quality across both the industry and academic staff.
