If you’ve just missed your period, you’re probably suspecting right now that you’re pregnant. Are there any indications, possibly as early as 4 weeks pregnant symptoms, which you can watch out for? We’ll help you find out!
Believe it or not, some women experience early symptoms of pregnancy in the first few weeks of conception. However, most of these symptoms are similar to pre-menstrual signs. Because of this, a missed period is still the most concrete indication of pregnancy.
Here’s a fun fact for you – your date of pregnancy is based on the day of your last menstrual period. If you’ve already missed your period, then you might already be 1 month pregnant. What are some 4 weeks pregnant symptoms that you can check?
Exhaustion
One of the first things that you’ll notice during early pregnancy is how you’re always tired and drowsy. It’s because of the sudden increase of progesterone in your body. Also, the abrupt changes happening in your body to accommodate its new guest will drain your energy.
Spotting and cramping
Most women mistake these symptoms as light menstruation. However, this is actually part of the fertilization process called implantation bleeding. It usually occurs once the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus, causing mild vaginal spotting.
If you’re suspecting that you’re pregnant, avoid using tampons to decrease the risk of infection. Keep in mind that you should seek professional help if the bleeding is foul-smelling or accompanied by fever.
Swollen breasts
The hormonal changes that you’re currently undergoing during early pregnancy will make your breasts feel tender and sore. Your areola will also grow larger and become darker. We suggest you wear a comfy and underwire-free bra to minimize discomfort.
Headaches and vomiting
Ah yes, the classic morning sickness. Despite its name, it can occur anytime and anywhere. You can blame your raging hormones and increasing blood circulation for it. Also, most pregnant women develop a heightened sense of smell which leads to sensitivity to different odors.
If nausea causes you to vomit, make sure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Seek professional help if you’re vomiting excessively.
Constipation and frequent urination
Your increasing progesterone causes the stomach to empty more slowly, leading to constipation. However, your kidney process more liquid because of your increasing blood circulation, so you’ll find yourself running to the bathroom more frequently.
There are still a few more 4 weeks pregnant symptoms that you may experience such as food cravings and mood swings, but the only way to confirm if you’re pregnant is through pregnancy testing.
A quick and easy way to find out if you’re pregnant is by doing an hCG test. The hCG pregnancy strips detect the pregnancy hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin in your urine sample. This test is extremely sensitive and can be used as early as 14 days after conception.
If you’re suspecting that you’re pregnant, confirm it as early as possible with this fast and painless test. The hCG test is extremely helpful, especially for those who are actively trying to conceive because early detection is important in planning a healthy pregnancy.
To reduce the number of accidents directly related to drug and alcohol use, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) works hard in maintaining a drug and alcohol-free workplace. Part of this program is subjecting all safety-sensitive employees to the DOT drug screen test as part of their pre-employment screening.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the sector of DOT that monitors commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries, implements a regulatory compliance and enforcement program to ensure the safety performance of all carriers.
Positions that require the performance of safety-sensitive tasks such as truck drivers, aircraft maintenance, and train dispatchers are subject to the DOT drug screen test.
Managers and supervisors may also be required to take the test as part of their pre-employment screening because they may be asked to perform a safety-sensitive job in the event of an emergency.
What drugs does the DOT drug screen test for?
To determine substance abuse, the urine sample of the examinee will be tested for the following drugs and metabolites:
Marijuana metabolites/THC
Amphetamines
Phencyclidine
Cocaine metabolites
Opiates
If you’re taking medications and over-the-counter drugs, you will have to provide proof that the medicine is prescribed to you by a licensed physician.
Aside from pre-employment screening, can they test me for other reasons?
Yes. You may be required to submit to a DOT drug screen test due to reasonable suspicion. However, the suspicion must not be based on guess alone. There must be observations of your behavior and appearance that may be associated with substance abuse.
If you’ve violated the policies concerning alcohol and drug use, you are also required to take a drug test before returning to duty. Follow-up tests are also mandatory.
Under the DOT regulations, unannounced random drug testing must also be conducted to guarantee that the employees are following the regulations concerning drug abuse.
How is the test administered?
The drug testing process will start with the collection of the examinee’s urine sample. The sample must be collected in a secure collection site to avoid tampering contamination.
After collection, the laboratory will conduct a specimen validity test to check if the sample was not adulterated or substituted. The drug screening test will follow. A urine sample that tested positive for substance abuse will be examined again using a different testing method.
Can I refuse to be tested?
Based on the regulations implemented by the DOT, you are not allowed to refuse a test. Failure to appear for a test and not cooperating during any part of the testing process also indicates refusal on your part.
In the event where you don’t agree with the purpose of the test, we suggest you take the test anyway. You can dispute it with your employer after taking the test. The DOT agency drug and alcohol program office may also assist you.
What will happen if I tested positive?
Employers are required to immediately forbid you to perform safety-sensitive jobs. You may also lose your certification or license to perform your job. However, there are industry-specific policies that regulate these matters.
The best you can do while moving forward is to seek help. There are a lot of resources available that will confidentially help you with your substance abuse problem.
Most of us are familiar with the breath test and saliva test used to detect the presence of alcohol in a person’s blood. However, these tests are only valid for two to three hours after alcohol consumption. To monitor if a person hasn’t consumed alcohol for the past few days, opt for an EtG test.
An ethyl glucuronide test, commonly known as the EtG test, is another type of procedure that detects alcohol in urine. How does it work? Can you pass an EtG test after 48 hours of alcohol consumption? Let’s find out.
How does it work?
After consuming alcohol, your body breaks it down into different metabolites. A direct metabolite of ethyl alcohol is ethyl glucuronide. This metabolite remains present in your body for two to five days, depending on how much alcohol you have drunk.
The EtG urine test detects the presence of the ethyl glucuronide on a person’s urine sample. Since this type of test can detect low levels of alcohol consumption, it is usually used to prove that the examinee is abstaining from alcohol.
An individual that has consumed alcohol and is taking an EtG test after 48 hours will likely receive a positive result. EtG tests can detect the metabolite for as long as 80 hours after alcohol consumption.
How is it done?
Once a urine sample is carefully collected from the examinee, remove the EtG alcohol test strip from its protective packaging. Make sure not to touch the strip membrane to avoid contamination.
Immerse the strip into the urine sample in a vertical position for ten to fifteen seconds. After pulling the strip out, wait for five minutes before reading the results. However, do not wait until ten minutes or the results will be considered invalid.
The EtG alcohol test strip is extremely sensitive. Make sure to properly store before using. Do not open the strip until you’re already performing the test to avoid contamination.
Interpreting the results
If the strip has one colored band in the Control Region and no colored band in the Test region, it is a positive result. A colored band in both the Control and Test Region indicates a negative result. However, if the Control Region has no colored band, the result is invalid.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, commonly known as SAMHSA, advises that a positive result is not stand-alone evidence that an individual has consumed alcohol. Additional tests must be done to ensure the validity of the EtG test. However, a negative result is convincing proof that the examinee was not exposed to alcohol within the testing time frame.
How long can the EtG test detect alcohol in urine?
If you’re hoping to pass the EtG test after 48 hours of alcohol consumption, we have some bad news for you. The standard time frame for an EtG test to detect alcohol is 80 hours. However, it still depends on how much you drank and how fast your metabolism rate is.
However, we do not advise drinking large amounts of water before taking the test. Most laboratories can detect a diluted urine sample and may invalidate your results.
Wondering what is tested on a 10 panel drug screen test? A urine drug test is a test that analyzes a carefully collected urine sample for the presence of one or more illegal or prescription drugs.
Other approaches can be used to screen these substances from a person’s biological sample. A laboratory can, for example, administer a drug screening through blood tests and analyzing hair or nail clippings. However, urine test kits are still the most common method.
Aside
from being widely available and simple to use, collecting a urine sample for
the test is painless. The cost is also considerably cheaper when compared to
other available methods. Moreover, the test results are ready in only a few
minutes.
10-panel Drug Screen Test
There
are different types of urine test kits. In this article, we’ll be discussing
one particular panel – the 10-panel drug screen test.
This
test can detect ten types of illegal or prescription drugs in a urine sample.
Companies usually use 5-panel drug tests for employment drug tests. However,
some employers may require a 10-panel drug screen test for jobs that involve
the safety of other people. Medical professionals and law enforcement officers,
for example.
Each
country has different laws regarding employment drug tests. We suggest you check
your country’s legislation regarding drug tests before requiring someone to
take the test.
Substances That It Can Detect
A standard 10-panel drug screen test detects the five most commonly misused prescription drugs and five illegal substances. Before taking the test, inform the laboratory if you’re taking any prescription drugs. Below is the list of what it screens:
After
taking drugs, the human body processes it and releases byproducts called
metabolites. These metabolites are discharged through urine and are then
detected by the urine drug test.
The
drugs remain in the body for a certain amount of time. Some drugs become
undetectable after 2 days, while others can be detected for weeks. The dosage
and an individual’s metabolism rate are also factors on how long will a drug be
detectable in a urine sample.
Most
drug tests take place at a laboratory or clinic. The medical officer will
provide a cup for the urine sample. Additional precautions may be taken to make
sure that the sample is not contaminated or diluted.
Once a
proper urine sample is provided, the medical officer will proceed with the
evaluation of the result.
Most
urine test kits provide results in just a few minutes. Results can either be
positive, negative, or invalid. The examinee will be required to provide
another urine sample if the test is invalid.
If the
result is positive, the urine sample will be retested for verification through
chromatography-mass spectrometry. The medical officer can also interview the
examinee for possible reasons for the result. Proof of prescription may be
required.
Maintaining a drug-free workplace is a significant responsibility of the company. It can be challenging to regulate, especially if you control hundreds of employees. Fortunately, there is a simple step that you can take to make it easier – employment drug tests.
Are you planning to implement this in your company? Here’s
what you need to know.
Employment Drug Tests and Alcohol Screening
Drug testing is used to detect the presence of illegal substances in a person’s body. There are different ways to administer a drug test, but urine tests are the cheapest and fastest method. The five most common street drugs detected in a standard employee drug test are:
Cocaine
Marijuana
Amphetamines
Phencyclidine
Opiates
Some employers can be strict, most importantly if the job requires the employee to operate heavy machinery. Consequently, they may demand employment drug tests that screen for more than five types of drugs. A job that handles the safety of other people may also be required to take additional tests.
If you want to screen for drugs that were used within 30 days to 6 months, opt for a drug test that uses nail or hair. But these methods can be more costly and time-consuming. Drug tests may also be completed using blood and saliva.
Benefits of Employment Drug Test
Whether you’re an employer or an employee, you need to
understand the benefits of a drug-free workplace. The abuse of drugs can affect
an employee’s work performance, attitude, and judgment.
The erratic changes in a user’s behavior can put both the
user and their coworkers at risk. Aside from lost productivity, there is also a
high risk of accidents and injuries due to the user’s impaired
concentration.
The danger imposed by drug and alcohol abuse can be immense and costly. Adding a pre-employment drug test will reduce this risk and benefit the company.
Pre-employment Drug Testing and Workplace Drug Abuse
Regulations
The easiest way to make sure that your workplace is
drug-free is by implementing a mandatory pre-employment drug test. You don’t
have to worry because it’s completely legal. As an added safety measure,
companies may also conduct a random and mandatory drug test for its
employees.
Keep in mind that different countries may have particular
laws that you’ll need to follow. A no discrimination policy, for
example, requires you to have all your employees tested with the same type of
test. Some countries even require consent from the applicant or employee. We
suggest you review your country’s drug test laws before finalizing your
company’s policies.
Positive Results
Depending on the method used, results are usually ready within a day. A positive test result will require a further examination for confirmation. The laboratory may contact the applicant or employee for questioning.
As an employer, take the time to remind your applicants and employees to inform the laboratory if they’re taking any medications. False-positive results can happen if the employee is taking different medicines. These include both prescription and over-the-counter drugs. However, the laboratory may require them to present proof of prescription.
