Testing methods made simple

2007-12-16T21:07:00.000-08:00

Look at this poor confused guy. He is thinking about his drug testing policy. Should I implement one? How would i do it? What method do I use? How do I know its the right method for me? Let's bring a smile back to his face. This month I'm going to tell you the differences in drug testing methods so read on and maybe we can make you smile too. There are 3 common ways to test for drugs. Urine, Saliva, and Hair. So let's break it down and make it simple.

ON-SITE URINE

Location: A pre-prepared bathroom normally in the workplace or your offices. You should remove all soap, cleaning products, toothpaste or chemicals from the room. If you can, you should turn off and blue the water.

Collection Method: The donor must provide at least 30 ml's of urine into a test cup. There are several different products that can be used, from dippers where you would have to dip the device into the sample and wait for the urine to wick up the strip, or cups that require activation. With these products, the strips are integrated into the cup; however, you need to carry out a step such as using a key to push a plunger or tipping the cup to one side or upside down. The easiest method is the no-step method like the DrugCheck cup. This means the donor supplies 30 mls of urine, puts the lid on, and then you can view the results. Easy as that.

Total Test Time: Depending on the circumstances and the experience of the tester, I would estimate that each test shouldn't take any longer than 15 minutes including the completion of the paperwork.

Results: Results within 5 minutes if negative and 24-48 hours if non- negative.

Detection Window :
Amphetamines; 24 - 72 hours
Cocaine; 24 - 72 hours
Opiates; 24 - 72 hours
PCP; 1 - 5 days
THC; 24 hours - 4 weeks

Price: Negative; $4 - $12 depending on the amount of drugs tested. Positive; Approx. $40 including device, confirmation and MRO.

Mark's opinion: On-site urine testing is the most cost effective method for testing. Devices are very easy to use and forms are easy to fill out. Great for pre-employment, reasonable suspicion, post accident and random programs. All positives should be confirmed. Tests can be adulterated and your procudures should reduce this risk.

ON-SITE ORAL FLUIDS
Location: Anywhere, there is no need for bathroom prep or same sex tester. Consideration should be given to donor's privacy.

Collection method: Device is placed in the mouth for a few minutes and saliva collected. Depending on the device, you may place the sponge into the device and activate it. Other devices use a spoon-like collection method and are self-activating. Some devices require another sample to be collected in the case of non-negatives for confirmation purposes. This is not necessary with our devices.

Total test time: Depending on the circumstances and the experience of the tester, I would estimate that each test shouldn't take any longer than 20 minutes including the completion of the paperwork.

Results: About 10 - 15 minutes if negative and 48 hours if non-negative.

Detection Window:
Amphetamines:24 - 36 hours
Cocaine: 24 - 36 hours
Opiates: 24 - 36 hours
PCP: 24 - 36 hours
THC: 6 - 24 hours

Price: Negative; $7 - $9 depending on device. Positive; $50 including device, confirmation and
MRO.

Mark's Opinion: Oral fluid devices have the shortest window of detection of any method. They are simple to use and don't require a bathroom or same sex tester. They are vitually impossible to adulterate. Although most people would rather deal with saliva than urine, it is important to note that saliva is a biohazard, urine is not. Perfect for post-accident testing or in areas where bathrooms are not available such as construction sites.

HAIR
Location: Anywhere; there is no need for bathroom prep or same sex tester. Consideration should be given to donor's privacy. Collection Method: Collect hair closest to the scalp the diameter of a pencil. The hair is then placed into foil and sealed into the bag for transportation to the lab. Chain of custody is then completed and the specimen with paperwork is forwarded to the lab.

Total test time: 15 minutes.

Results: 48 - 96 hours. Negatives may be reported within 24 hours.

Detection Window:
Amphetamines: 1 - 3 months
Cocaine: 1 - 3 months
Opiates: 1 - 3 months
PCP: 1 - 3 months
THC 1 - 3 months

Price: $49.95 including MRO.

Mark's opinion: Hair testing will not detect one time or infrequent use within 1 week of the test. It will not be a good indication of when the donor used, so this is not a good post-accident test. This test is a good pre-employment test for those with a larger budget.I still believe that urine testing is the best all-around test and there is no doubt you get more bang for ya buck. Oral fluid and hair testing should not be discounted entirely. They are harder to adulterate and easier to collect. Remember, I'm just a phone call away if you have any questions. Now be happy like this guy. DTS Screening Services is here to help its clients in any way we can. We have experts in the field of alcohol and other drugs and we are always happy to answer your questions. If you have a question or any feedback, please call or email me and I'll be happy to assist you.

Sincerely,
Mark Cotter
DTS Screening Services

COUGH/FLU MEDICATION AND DRUG TESTING

2007-11-14T22:02:00.000-08:00

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Well it sure is getting cold outside and of course, we all know what that means.... headaches, fever, coughing, stuffy noses and all those wild and wonderful aches and pains. My Grandma used to give me a piping hot glass of lemon and honey and It always seemed to make me feel better. These days, of course, we have a myriad of options when it comes to over the counter (OTC) or now behind the counter medications to relieve our symptoms. But what's in them and how will it affect my drug testing program? Great questions and it's exactly what I'm going to tackle for you this month. Read on because one of you is going to win a brand new ipod nano to get you through the long cold winter.

Codeine, hydrocodone, pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, and phenylephrine may all be used to treat symptoms of cold and flu. It has long been said that products containing these drugs may result in positives when using on-site drug testing products. Is it so?

Codeine

Codeine is used as a cough suppressant and to relieve moderate to severe pain. Codeine enters the body and when it metabolizes it changes to morphine.The use of codeine may result in a positive result on the OPI panel. This is more likely if you test for OPI at a cutoff of 300ng rather than the more common 2000ng.

Hydrocodone

Hydrocodone is commonly used to treat pain. It is also approved in a few medications as a cough suppressant. On the other side of the coin, Hydrocodone is a very popular drug of abuse, giving the user an increased sense of euphoria. When abused, Hydrocodone can lead to serious illness or injury and is extremely addictive. Hydrocodone may result in a positive result on the OPI panel.

Pseudoephedrine

Pseudoephedrine is commonly used as a decongestant. A lot of people in the USA refer to it as Sudafed, which is actually a brand name owned by Pfizer. Sudafed also comes in a pseudoephedrine free OTC marketed as Sudafed PE.

Ephedrine

Ephedrine is a sympathomimetic amine similar in structure to the synthetic derivatives amphetamine and methamphetamine. Ephedrine is commonly used as a stimulant, appetite suppressant, concentration aid, decongestant and to treat hypertension associated with regional anesthesia.

Sympathomimetics will probably not trigger MET/AMP strips in your on-site screening test like the DrugCheck cup but in higher doses it may. It is a common misconception that these OTC drugs will cause false positives. This highlights the importance of confirming your on-site positives with a GC/MS testing process. With the two-tiered testing process and the definitive identification and quantification with GC/MS confirmation, the use of these OTC drugs will not result in a confirmed positive drug test.

Be sure to inform the donor to keep records of any drugs they have taken. This includes OTC and prescription drugs. This will assist them when they are contacted by the MRO who will make the final determination.

DTS Screening Services is here to help its clients in any way we can. We have experts in the field of alcohol and other drugs and we are always happy to answer your questions. If you have a question or any feedback, please call or email me and I'll be happy to assist you.

Sincerely,