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Know About Laboratory Urine Drug Test

drugtest — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:33:30 +0000

Many types of drug testing techniques are available for detecting drug abuse. Urinalysis is one of the most commonly used urine based drug testing as it is a simple technique, and less expensive. Urine drug testing has been popular and employed successfully for testing drugs across the organizations, schools, at home etc.

Drugs tested

Laboratory urine drug testing detects the presence of many drugs with accurate results. This drug testing can detect maximum of 10 most commonly used drugs at once. It detects the parent drug or its metabolites by demonstrating recent use of prescription medications like opioids, benzodiazepines, amphetamines, barbiturates and illegal substances like heroin, illicit cocaine, marijuana, phencyclidine (PCP). This test is used as a screening tool to determine the prior use and concentrations of drugs present in the body.

Procedure followed

For laboratory urine drug test, collection and testing urine specimen is done under the presence of an authorized person. After this, tests are conducted on collected specimen for detection of drug tests by immunoassay screen followed by GS-MS confirmation test. Chemical highlighted test strip is used for this test. The test strip should be examined carefully with the help of lab testing devices depending upon the types of substances to be detected.

For each drug the detection periods and cut off levels depend on the nature and usage of the drug. The detection period of any drug through laboratory urine drug testing is from 6 hours to 3 days from the time of consumption. All screening tests are performed by the immunoassay based on the technology of the testing kit. Confirmatory tests are performed using either gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) or any other superior technique. The samples are treated with either the technical or all of these methods to verify the results. Confirmation results are reported as positive or negative based on SAMSHA cut off levels and all non-negative results are confirmed prior to any disclosure.

Laboratory urine drug test is used as standard test for drug detection. Reliable results are possible with this laboratory drug testing and they can be used as a proof drug abuse. The above information gives you a helpful insight about the laboratory urine drug test, drugs detected through this and the procedure followed.

Drug Testing for Heroin

drugtest — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 05:12:39 +0000

Heroin is popular among high school and college grads. According to the Monitoring The Future study, 1.3% of the 8th grade students abused heroin in their past lifetime, and .8% in the past year, and .4% in the past month. The percentages were much higher in the 10th and 12th grads. These alarming numbers tells the need for active heroin drug testing at schools, colleges, and other places to deter the drug abuse.

Heroin drug test is usually conducted to identify the presence of its drug metabolites in a body. The presence of the drug can be monitored by different types of tests suitable to the convenience of test administration.

Urine Drug Testing:

Urine drug testing is the most common method used for drug detection. It is less expensive when compared to other tests. The cut off level for this is 300ng/mL. The detection period of the drug is 2-4 days. This test strip gives positive result if the drug in the urine specimen exceeds the cut off level and negative if it is below the cut off level.

Hair Drug Testing:

Hair drug testing is not the common method used for drug testing. It is expensive when compared to the Urine Drug Testing. This test can be used to detect substance use for a long period of time, but it cannot detect drug abuse within past one week. The cut off level for this test is 0.1ng/mL. It takes several months to detect the drug. This test gives positive result if the drug in the hair specimen exceeds cut off level and negative if it is below the cut off level.

Saliva Drug Testing:

Saliva drug testing test is also not the common method. This test can detect more recent use of the drug and it is very easy to administer but it is still more expensive than Urine Drug Testing. The cut off level for this test is 40ng/mL. It takes some weeks to detect the drug. This test gives positive result when the drug in the saliva specimen exceeds cut off level and negative if it is below the cut off level.

With increase in use of Heroin, concerns on health of abusers and effects on the society are growing. Parents should observe their children’s habits in order to reduce the usage of drugs. For tracing these two drugs one should select appropriate method of drug testing which gives accurate test results.

Advantages of Hair Drug Testing Over Urine Drug Testing

drugtest — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:17:43 +0000

Urine analysis as a drug test is the most common method to detect and confirm any suspicion of individuals under drug influence. Urine drug testing is trusted in institutions in both the public and the private sector. However, newer technology like oral sample drug tests and hair drug testing presents advantages for employers, parents, or anyone who is interested and concerned about their loved ones.

Hair Drugs Tests Detect Longer

The time detection rate of hair drug tests is longer. In fact, scientists have discovered drug used in Chilean and Peruvian mummies dating back to 1000 B.C. Therefore, there is a lot of information that can be stored in our hair. An illegal drugs abuser with the prior knowledge of drug testing can abstain for three days to two weeks before submitting to a urine drug tests. With urine drug tests, these violators go away scot-free.

With hair drug testing, detection rate can go up to three months or 90 days. That is why more employers are turning to hair drug test for this reason alone. Employers do not care about applicants using drugs now as much as the pattern or history of drug use. Most importantly, hair drug testers can accurately give a timeline of the violators drug use. Hair drug testing is fundamentally more relevant in the work place.

Hair Drug Tests have no risk of Adulteration

Adulteration or switching urine samples prior to a drug test is one of the common methods to escape a positive reading. Usually, a “clean” friend donates his urine sample to the drug user so that he can be accepted into a job. This method is also used in violators who are applying for a driver’s license.

However, hair samples are hard to switch. Hair drug testers can easily pluck a hair strand from an individual. In comparison with urine drug testing where the extracting a sample should be done privately, hair drug testing is a non-intrusive and non-embarrassing method in taking samples for drug tests.

At the same time, hair drug tests can be done without the knowledge of the person being tested. A hair follicle sample can be taken from a hair brush or a comb. This is most useful for parents who want to avoid asking their children to take a urine drug tests. With this method, teenage drug abusers won’t know if they are being tested.

Cost Effective

With the different advantages of hair drug testing, employers and company looks at cost efficiency to justify the use of hair sample drug testing. While it is more expensive than traditional drug tests, the accuracy and detection range of hair drug tests prevents greater costs associated with impaired or delinquent workers. Hair drug testing promises cost efficiency in the long run while ensuring a more robust, dynamic and drug-free workforce.

Drug Testing In A Nutshell

drugtest — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:48:33 +0000

For people who want to have a loved one undergo drug testing or for anyone who just wants to (or has to) go through it, here are some highly important points to take note of. First of all, however, it really is high time for people all across the United States, even the entire world, to put greater importance on the life threatening risks involved when it comes to drugs and substance abuse.

1. Testing: What Works?

As compared to having a drug testing by taking samples of the patient’s blood, it is highly recommended that the medical technician use the patient’s urine. The urine has been proven to be more reliable when it comes to the detection of any drug abuse. Unfortunately, it also a more expensive kind of drug testing. As an added benefit, it is also gives the clearest results; it is very easy for medical technicians to see whether or not a person has taken drugs into one’s system.

One downside of drug testing using urine samples is that it is impossible to accurately say when the patient took the drug. Blood testing is more accurate and this associated information can be derived from a blood sample.

2. Future Techniques: Hair Sampling

Another drug testing technique is through hair testing which is not recommended because a lot of laboratories are finding some difficulty with regards to the reliability of the results especially, as most often than not, drug testing through the hair poses positive results for the patient. A lot of people don’t buy into this kind of drug testing since with the simple act of washing one’s hair as well as being subjected to other hair contaminants an incorrect reading is possible.

3. Problems With Drug Testing:

- Confirming the reliability of the testing – Questionable accuracy of hair testing results – Urine drug testing accuracy highly dependent on how the procedure has been carried out by the medical technician

Unfortunately, most especially during this time wherein more and more people are getting lured into doing drugs as well as other substance abuse, a lot of the clinics that are conducting drug testing all over the United States are not really capable of providing the reliable results that people need due to the rampant mishandling and as well as the improper ways that some clinics conduct their drug testings. Therefore, the top three most reliable aspects that people should need to look for in a drug test for it be considered as reliable: strict collection procedures, proper testing procedures and random notification.

Hair Drug Testing: Accurate and Effective

drugtest — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:32:22 +0000

Many companies require a drug test when hiring a new employee. They may require it instead of or alongside of a background check. This ensures companies that they are getting an employee that is reliable. However, while most utilize urine drug testing, many have not caught on to the effective and accurate method of hair drug testing that would provide them a much better view of an individual.

The bottom line is that the traditional forms of drug testing are not going to provide information on a very long period of time. For example, with urine most drugs are only detectable for a few days after their use. While there are some drugs that may be detected past this time frame, it is possible that the drug would pass out of the body quickly and be undetected by the test. While many companies combat this by having employees take the test within 24 or 48 hours it is still not foolproof. In comparison, a hair drug test is going to provide a 90 day history of the applicant’s drug habits. This can be tested with 1.5 inches of hair.

It is amazing that the hairs on our head hold so much information. While head hair is preferable, it is even possible for hair on other areas of the body to be used. It is remarkable that this information is simply hidden inside the follicles of our hair and can be pulled out at any time.

A hair drug test screens for the same drugs that a urine test screens for. When the lab tests for drugs through this method they would typically remove about 40-50 strands. This may seem like a lot but it is really a small amount of hair. I’m sure it will grow back quickly!

The great thing about using a hair drug test is that it could be potentially used in random drug pools to be a more accurate indication of an individual’s drug use, especially when a company or position has a strict anti-drug policy. Generally speaking random drug pools are used in very safety sensitive positions and other positions that require people to be in tip top condition at all times. By utilizing this type of test they are going to get more accurate results that will potentially help keep more individuals off drugs and weed out those individuals that are getting away with using on the job.

Drug testing accuracy is really based on the technology that is used for the test. It is also dependent upon the skills of the organization you use for processing the drug screens. This makes it very important to research and understand the company you are utilizing for your drug screening procedures. Further, proper handling of all samples is very important as is the processing of the samples. Work with a well-known and professional company to achieve the best results. Often times the nature of the drugs themselves will sway the results as the chemical nature varies widely for each drug.

As companies look for ways to hire the best employees they may start to have stricter standards when it comes to background check procedures and drug screens. Perhaps hair drug testing will be the new way to go. Perhaps we can say goodbye to the little cup we think of so fondly when we enter our local drug testing facility and say hello to a nice new pair of shears. Only time will tell.

Know About Opiate Drug Testing

drugtest — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 06:02:25 +0000

Opiates are one of the most addictive drugs with sedative and analgesic effects, which depress the central nervous system. According to the TEDS report, opiates are the primary substance of abuse and accounted for almost one-fifth (19 percent) of all substance abuse treatment admissions in 2007. Some common opiates are morphine, codeine and heroin, of which heroin is the major illegal drug. According to NSDUH, there were about 114,000 persons aged 12 or older who used heroin for the first time within the past 12 months in 2008.

Opiates is one of the five metabolite groups called SAMHSA-5 that can be tested for workplace drug testing under SAMHSA guidelines. The opiate drug tests detect the presence of codeine, morphine, and 6-acetyl-morphine. The presence of 6-acetyl-morphine shows recent heroin abuse.

Urine drug testing:

Urine test is a common method of detecting opiate and its metabolites in urine specimen. Morphine can be detected in urine for 2 days, codaine for 2 to 3 days and heroin for 3 to 4 days. The cutoff concentration for initial test of opiate metabolites is 2000ng/mL. The confirmatory cut off level for morphine and codeine are 2000ng/mL and 10ng/mL for 6-acetylmorphine.

Hair drug testing:

Many opiates can be detected using hair tests. Hair tests require a sample of hair about 90 to 120 strands. The standard hair screen uses the most recent 1.5 inches of growth for testing. Hair tests detect substance abuse over a long period. Morphine, codeine and heroin can be detected for up to 90 days using hair tests. The initial cutoff level for opiate metabolites is 200 pg/mg and confirmatory cutoff value is also 200 pg/mg.

Saliva drug testing:

Saliva tests are easy to administer and adulteration of the specimen can be avoided. Morphine and heroin can be detected in saliva for 1 to 2 days and codeine for 2 to 3 days. The initial cutoff concentration level for opiate metabolites is 40ng/mL. The confirmatory test cutoff level for Morphine and codeine are 40ng/mL each and 4 ng/mL for 6-acetylmorphine.

Opiate abuse continues be a serious threat to public health. The above information will surely help you to understand different methods of opiate drug testing and choose the better one to detect this harmful drug without much hassle.

Comparison Of Urine And Saliva Drug Tests

drugtest — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 04:22:12 +0000

The major difference between different types of drug tests is the collection of specimen. But the advantages and disadvantages of these distinct drug tests vary in terms of many issues like invasiveness in specimen collection, risk of tampering the specimen, cost of drug test, time taken to produce results, accuracy of the results, etc. Of all the drug tests, Urine and Saliva drug tests are very common because of their efficiency to provide accurate results.

Features of urine and saliva drug testing

Both the urine drug testing and the saliva drug testing have their own advantages as well as some disadvantages.

Collection of specimen:

The major advantage of saliva drug testing over urine drug testing is its least invasiveness of privacy while collecting specimen. This has been a controversy since a long time in all the places of drug testing. The process of collecting saliva for a drug test is obviously less invasive compared to the case of urine drug test.

Chances of adulteration:

The chances of adulteration in saliva drug test are very less, compared to urine drug test. In case of saliva drug test, it is feasible to collect the specimen under legible supervision. Thus, minimizing the chances of tampering the specimen. This is not possible in case of urine drug testing. However, saliva drug test is not completely free from adulteration.

Detection period of drug abuse:

The detection period of drug abuse through saliva drug test is shorter, compared to urine drug test. The detection period in case of saliva drug test is around 20 hours to 1 day approximately, whereas it is around 3 days in case of urine drug test.

Accuracy of results:

The accuracy rate of both, urine and saliva drug tests are deemed by the United States court system. However, the accuracy rate of urine drug test results is much higher than that of saliva drug test results, the risk of false negatives is high in both the drug tests.

Cost of drug test

Cost-effectiveness is the major advantage of urine drug tests compared to any type of drug tests. The cost of saliva drug test is a little higher, compared to urine drug test. However, the cost of saliva drug testing complies with the quality of the drug test.

As both saliva drug test and urine drug test, have their own advantages and disadvantages it is not feasible to use any one of them in all the situations. Based on the comparison of features mentioned above, it will be easier to analyze and choose a drug test according to the situation.

Why to Choose Instant Drug Testing Kits

drugtest — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:52:21 +0000

Instant drug testing kits are used to get accurate and instant results with less cost. Instant drug testing kits are very simple and easy to perform. Even an individual can perform the test independently. They deliver accurate results instantly at any place. A single drug testing kit can be used to perform multiple drug tests. There are wide varieties of testing methods in instant drug tests.

Reasons to choose instant drug test:

Instant drug testing kit is preferred by different sections of users because it is very accurate, easy to perform, available in wide methods and can be used at any place and at any time. The following are the main reasons to choose instant drug testing kits.

• Quick and accurate:

Earlier, drug tests were done only in laboratories, which was a costly and lengthy process. But with the help of instant drug testing kits one can perform the tests instantly and get accurate results. Instant drug testing kits are suitable to both institutional and individual users, as they are quick and accurate unlike the earlier testing methods.

• Ease of use:

Instant drug testing kits are simple and easy to perform. An individual can perform the test by himself even for the first time without others help. As it is an instant process, one can go through this drug testing at any place according to their conveniences.

• Wide varieties of drug tests:

Wide varieties of instant drug testing kits are available like single to multiple drug testing. This means, a single test kit is used to test between one to ten drugs at a time. There are also many drug testing types like urine drug testing, oral drug testing, hair follicle drug testing etc. One can select the test depending upon their requirement.

• Suitable for different sections of users:

Drug testing kits can be used at different places like organizations, schools, sports etc. It is preferred in organizations because, an employee will not have time to go to the drug testing center to perform the test one day and collect the results the other day, moreover it is also a costly process. So in order to overcome this, people at any place can use instant drug testing kits for instant results.

Instant drug testing kits are helpful to both institutions and individuals as well. If you are from an institution or an individual, this information will be helpful to you in knowing about instant drug testing kit.

Why is Hair Follicle Drug Testing Better?

drugtest — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:14:09 +0000

Hair follicle drug testing is a new alternative to urine testing which is more reliable is easier to conduct. Unlike urine drug testing where the collection of the sample requires privacy and thus promotes a multitude of evasion methods. Hair follicle drug testing is much more reliable since it goes back up to 90 days depending on the test and the type of test conducted.

The only sample required is hair of the subject which is analyzed to detect evidence of drug abuse. As usual with any abuse detection test in the market, there are products which are purportedly capable of cheating the hair follicle drug testing process and returning a clean result. The more prominent among these that are doing brisk business over the internet are the so called cleansing shampoos. They only succeed in cleaning the exterior of the hair and leave the inside with trace amounts of illegal drugs as evidence.

In contrast, there are masking agents available to cheat the urine drug tests that are in wide use right now. Just the fact that in most cases the urine samples are collected in privacy enables the subject to provide a falsified or tampered sample for the test. Hair follicle drug testing is better on this front because the person in charge of the test can personally collect a sample and ensure that there will be no tampering of the sample.

Conducting a hair follicle drug test is child’s play with all those do-it-yourself drug test kits available in the market today. All you have to do is order a test over the internet and once the kit arrives, just follow the instructions on it accurately. Hair follicle drug testing works on the principle that when a drug is injected (or otherwise infused) into the blood stream which nourishes the growing hair follicles, a marginal but traceable amount of the drug is left on the hair follicle. Even after the hair follicle grows out, a trace amount of the drug is still left there which could be detected in the laboratory.

A half inch of hair sample could resolve into a 30-day history of drug abuse after being subjected to hair follicle drug testing. If the sample as 1.5 inches long, the rule of thumb dictates that up to 90 days of drug abuse history can be ascertained. People who are contemplating shaving their heads to evade the test could use the fact that body hair could also be used to test for drugs. The result of the tests is not affected by the use of bleaches or shampoos of any kind. It would be comforting to know that second hand smoke of weed is not detected in hair follicle drug testing.

Hair follicle drug testing is precise and sophisticated process, the low point being that it is also a slow process. A proper hair follicle test could take as long as 3 months before the results are returned. This obstinate delay in the availability of the result puts many people off, but the accuracy of the results and the general reliability of the method is an advantage that surely overrides any drawbacks of this process.

The amusing fact is that no matter whether you chose to agree with the credibility of hair follicle drug testing or not, this testing methodology is gaining wide opinion and devout followers. The future would see the elimination of urine drug tests in favor of this test for sure. The odds weigh in favor of the hair follicle drug tests, and for obvious reasons.