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Professional Drug Testing Methods
There are many professional drug-testing
methods available for employers or organizations to use, including
those using hair samples, saliva samples, and the most
commonly-used sample for testing: urine.
Here, First Check explains what you can expect during a
professional workplace drug test. First Check understands the
technology used in professional drug screening because First Check™
Home Drug Tests are as accurate as a professional urine lab
screening.
- Once a company has determined an employee should
be drug tested, the company may outsource the collection of a urine
sample to a third party collection agency, which in turn may
partner with a testing laboratory.
- “I certify that I provided my urine specimen to
the collector and that I have not adulterated it in any manner. The
specimen was sealed in my presence with a tamperevident seal and
the information provided on this form and on the label affixed to
the specimen tube is correct.”
- The specimen is then sealed and a preliminary
screening takes place, usually on the premises of the collection
site.
- Cannabinoids (marijuana, hash)
- Cocaine (cocaine, crack, benzoylecognine)
- Amphetamines (amphetamines, methamphetamines,
speed)
- Opiates (heroin, opium, codeine, morphine)
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
- Some companies or facilities may opt for
additional drug screening, testing for drugs such as Ecstasy and
prescription drugs.
- Most companies adhere to SAMHSA-identified
cut-off levels, which are the >same levels that First Check uses
for all First Check™ Home Drug Tests.
- However, some industries may test for higher or
lower cut-off levels than the SAMHSA-identified cut-off levels,
depending on their standards.
- Using the same technology used by the First
Check™ Home Drug Tests, the urine sample is tested for the presence
of drugs
- If the preliminary results are Negative for all
drugs, the sample does not require confirmatory testing.
- If the preliminary results are Positive for any
or all drugs, the urine sample is shipped to a laboratory for
further analysis. The laboratory uses a highlysensitive testing
method called gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS)to
confirm and quantify the drugs of abuse present in the urine
sample. GC/MS is considered the gold standard in laboratory testing
for most drugs and can determine the amount of drug or drug
metabolite in urine and rule out any substances that might cause a
false positive through cross-reactivity.
- When confirmatory testing of the urine sample is
complete, test results are provided via mail, fax, or the Internet
to the company that ordered the test.
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