What Is Tested For On A 10 Panel Drug Screen Test?

by Medical Health Article | Dec 23, 2019 | Drug Testing

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:

• Cannabis (hashish, hashish oil, marijuana, synthetic cannabinoids)
• Amphetamines (amphetamine sulfate, methamphetamine, dexamphetamine)
• Barbiturates (amobarbital, secobarbital, pentobarbital, tuinal, phenobarbital)
• Benzodiazepines (lorazepam, diazepam, chlordiazepoxide, alprazolam)
• Opioids (opium, codeine, heroin, morphine)
• Cocaine 
• Phencyclidine
• Methaqualone
• Methadone
• Propoxyphene

How It Works

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.

Drug Test Results

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. 

A negative result won’t need retesting. 

What Do Standard Employment Drug Tests Test For

by Medical Health Article | Nov 29, 2019 | Drug Testing

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.

How to Read a Drug Test Cup

by Medical Health Article | Nov 24, 2019 | Drug Testing

A urine drug test examines your urine for the presence of foreign or illegal substances. This test is usually for pre-employment screening and drug abuse detection. 

The most popular way of screening the urine is through drug test cups. It is a quick and painless way to test for multiple drugs in one screening of a urine sample. The 12 Panel Drug Test cup, for example, can easily detect the following drugs – Amphetamine, Barbiturate, Buprenorphine, Benzodiazepine, Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Ecstasy, Methadone, Opiates, Oxycodone, Phencyclidine, and Marijuana. This cup is also CLIA waived, which means that it carries a low risk for inaccurate results.

It’s easy to use and read a drug test cup. Here’s a guide for you to follow:

1. Obtain a drug test cup

Determine the kind of drug test cup that is needed. Each cup varies depending on the types of drugs that it can detect. Check if it is FDA approved and CLIA waived, as well. 

Examine if the seal of the test cup is intact. Do not use it if there’s any sign of tampering or contamination to avoid inaccurate results. Make sure that the test cup is not expired too.

2. Collect urine sample

The optimal amount of urine sample for this test is 30mL. However, the test can work if the urine sample is at least 15mL. Make sure that the urine sample is not contaminated or diluted. 

Once the urine sample is collected, start a five-minute timer before reading the results. Make sure not to exceed the ten-minute mark before interpreting the results.

3. Evaluate the results 

Each panel has its own Control Region and Test Region. The Control Region, printed at the top, is marked as C. The Test Region, placed below the Control Region, is marked as T. These regions are important in knowing how to read a drug test cup.

First, check if there is a colored line next to the C. If there is no colored line in the Control Region, the test is invalid. You’ll have to collect another urine sample and use a new drug test cup. Common reasons for an invalid result are insufficient urine sample volume and incorrect procedural method. 

If a colored line surfaces next to both the Control and Test Region, the result of the drug test is negative. The color intensity of the line is not a factor. Even a faint colored line means that the test is negative. 

Having one line in the Control Region and none in the Test Region indicates a positive result. You may choose to redo the test to guarantee that the test is not a false positive. However, most 12 Panel Drug Test cups are 99% accurate. A SAMHSA-certified laboratory may also examine the urine sample for validation of the result. 

Upon purchase of drug test cups, make sure that it’s properly stored. Keep the cups out of direct sunlight. Stocking the cups in a freezer is also prohibited. Make sure that the temperature of the storage area is between two to thirty degrees Celcius.