FAQ

FAQ

Forensic Laboratories Frequently Asked Questions come from you and your co-workers. We gather the most FAQ’s from many of our clients, either before we begin working together or after we start. Here’s some FAQ regarding workplace, drug court and treatment drug testing programs:

WORKPLACE FAQ:

What are the major benefits of a drug testing program?

Benefits for workplace drug testing include increased:
Staff morale
Employee motivation
Employee creativity
Customer satisfaction
Customer retention
Positive public image
Savings through incentive programs offered by insurance carriers
Savings through fewer accidents and property damage


What can I do to prevent or reduce drug use among employees?

Research indicates that implementing a drug-free workplace program is the best way to combat employee drug use. A comprehensive program includes a drug-free workplace policy, supervisor training, employee and management education, employee assistance and drug testing. Research also shows a positive relationship between the number of services included in a program and the overall effectiveness of the program.

How do I know if you run a quality laboratory?

Forensic Laboratories meets and exceeds all regulations set forth by both the federal government (CLIA '88) and the Colorado Department of Public Health. Forensic Laboratories is regularly inspected to ensure continued quality.

How do you maintain quality control for every test?

Forensic Laboratories maintains a Quality Assurance Program. Included in this program are both internal (control materials, calibrators, equipment maintenance) and external (proficiency samples) quality control policies and procedures.

How do you prevent false-positives?

False positives are prevented by repouring and retesting every presumptive positive result. Once the positive result is verified, the specimen is analyzed by GC/MS or LC/MS/MS for confirmation if requested.

Will the results of your testing stand up in court?

Yes. We are proud to state that since our founding in 1997, all of our forensic evidence and expert testimony has been upheld in court cases.

Who is using your laboratory and drug testing services?

To maintain the confidentiality of our clients we don't disclose this type of information, however we can tell you the types of clients we service.

What kinds of companies should drug test?

All organizations may benefit from drug testing programs. Drug abusers seek out companies that do not have drug testing programs in place. Consider the following facts: 98% of Fortune 500 companies have drug-free workplace programs in effect. 87% of the 9 million illicit drug users in the full-time workforce work for companies with less than 500 employees. The negative effects of drug abuse are felt most by small and medium-sized companies.

Will drug testing reduce my insurance costs?

Yes. Many insurance carriers offer substantial savings through incentive programs for companies that use drug testing programs.

Why do so many large companies but so few small companies have drug-testing programs?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 3% of small businesses do drug testing. But 90% of large businesses (over 1,000 employees) have drug testing programs. When it comes to workplace substance abuse, small businesses don't need to face this big disadvantage. They can combat the fact that they are more likely to be the "employer-of-choice" for illicit drug users. Individuals who can't adhere to a drug-free workplace policy seek employment at firms that don't have one, and the cost of just one error caused by an impaired employee can devastate a small company.

If an employee has a drug problem, should I fire him or her?

First, supervisors and management should never be in the position of determining if an employee has a "drug problem". Only a qualified substance abuse professional or the employee themselves should make this determination. Second, unless your company has a drug-free policy in effect, and the employee has been informed of this policy, it would not be wise to fire him or her based on assumptions of a drug problem.

How do I set up a drug testing program?

There are five components to a comprehensive drug-free workplace program: Policy, Training, Education, Employee Assistance, Drug Testing. You may not include all of the components, but all should be considered before you begin drug testing employees. The more comprehensive your program, the better it will work.

Who can help me set up a program?

Forensic Laboratories can help you create a compete program. Our consultants are able to provide you with all components of a program. You can create your own program and use Forensic Laboratories to conduct the drug tests.

What is an MRO?

A Medical Review Officer (MRO) is a licensed Medical Doctor who has special training in the area of substance abuse. All positive test results can or will be sent to the MRO who will then review the results, confirm that the chain-of-custody procedures were followed, and contact the donor to make sure there are no medical or undisclosed reasons for the positive result. It is only after this review that the test result will be sent to the employer.

Are there resources to help me set up my own program?

Yes, the Department of Labor has an excellent source of information for small businesses who want to create their own plan. It is the Drug-Free Workplace Advisor, a free, online interactive tool, available at www.dol.gov/elaws/drugfree.htm.

Can you explain the five components of a comprehensive drug-free workplace program?

Yes. Here are the five components explained:

  1. Policy: A written drug testing or drug-free workplace policy should be implemented as the first step in your program. Your organization's policy should be developed specifically for your company. At a minimum, your policy should address why a workplace program is being implemented, a description of behaviors that are prohibited, and the consequences for policy violation.
  2. Training: Supervisors and management personnel need to be trained for their new responsibilities and how to deal with the employees who have job performance problems that may be related to alcohol or drugs. Documentation of job performance problems is critical. Supervisors should never be put in a position where they are expected to diagnose alcohol and drug-related problems.
  3. Education: All company employees should be required to participate in the drug and alcohol education program. Research shows that providing education to employees about company information, general drug and alcohol information, and options for help (either through the company or outside providers) significantly reduces workplace drug use.
  4. Employee Assistance: Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) clearly demonstrates an employer's responsiveness and respect for staff. These programs also offer an alternative to dismissal and minimize an employer°Øs legal vulnerability because they clearly show a company's effort to aid troubled employees.
  5. Drug Testing: Drug tests are increasingly becoming the standard of drug-free workplace programs. Questions to consider are: Who will be tested? When will tests be conducted? Who will monitor collections? How will tests be conducted? And who will conduct the tests? (Willow Laboratories would like to conduct these tests for you as we do for corporations, government agencies, drug treatment facilities, and doctors. And we make it easy to order tests and receive reports right from this site.)

    DRUG COURT AND TREATMENT DRUG TESTING FAQ:
    The donor specimen sat out all weekend unrefrigerated, is it still okay for testing?
    Yes, however Forensic Laboratories recommends testing an unrefrigerated specimen within fourteen days of collection. It is known that the concentrations of some drugs and their metabolites decrease gradually in room temperature urine. Refrigeration can slow this process and freezing will preserve a sample indefinitely. Usually the decrease is minmal, but in the worst-case scenario, a borderline positive level might drop below the detection threshold. An unrefrigerated specimen should never cause a false positive, with one important exception. Alcohol may form in unrefrigerated urine due to fermentation, if the urine sugar (glucose) is elevated, such as in diabetes. We recommend that alcohol screens be shipped promptly, and we check for the presence of glucose in all positives.

How do I know if a sample has been tampered with or mixed up with another sample after collection?

All samples are carefully labeled at the collection site and contain a tamper-evident seal that is placed over the top of the specimen cup. Additionally, the specimen cup is placed in a tamper-evident security bag, along with any chain of custody forms. Upon arrival at the laboratory every sample is examined to ensure that the tamper evident seals are still intact and that the identification numbers on the sample and the chain of custody match. Following the above procedure ensure the legal defensibility of the chain of custody procedure.

Will commonly ingested substances such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, caffeine penicillin or vitamins cause a false positive test result?

No. The tests are drug and drug metabolite specific. Because these commonly ingested substances are chemically and structurally different from the drugs being tested for, they will not interfere with or compromise test results.

Will over-the-counter medications cause a confirmed false positive test result?

No. Some over-the-counter medications may cause a presumptive positive test result on our EMIT screening assay, which is the first test performed on the sample to determine if drugs are present. Specimens that test presumptive positive on the screening test are immediately scheduled for a second test called a confirmation test. The confirmation test will determine definitively if the drug present in a specimen is an over-the-counter medication or a drug of abuse.

Can prescription medications cause a false positive test result?

No. The majority of prescribed medications will not cause a positive urine drug test result. However, some prescribed drugs are widely abused and will be detected during our initial EMIT screening test, generating a “presumptive positive” result. It is important to note that this is not a situation of a "false positive" finding, but is in fact an accurate test result. If you have a Physician’s prescription for the drug detected there will be no action taken, and the test will be reported as “negative”.

What is Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)?

The most precise procedure for detection of drugs of abuse in urine is a combination of gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS), abbreviated GC/MS, which provides an exact molecular identification of substances. Compounds are separated by GC and are then introduced, one at a time, into a mass spectrometer. As the sample constituents enter the MS, they are bombarded by electrons, which cause the compound to break up into molecular fragments. The fragmentation pattern is reproducible and characteristic, and is considered the "molecular-fingerprint" of a specific compound. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry is considered to be the most definitive method for confirming the presence of a drug in the urine and is admissible in the Court of Law.

Does our program need to order a GC/MS confirmation whenever a positive drug test result would lead to a probation revocation hearing?

The American Probation and Parole Association guidelines suggest two methods for using positive test results for the purpose of revoking probation. First, if the donor tests positive by immunoassay screen and admits to using the drug, then no further testing is required. The admission is all that the court needs to revoke probation. If the donor denies using the drug, then a confirmation test is required. The universally accepted confirmation test is Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) and is admissible in the court of law.

Will “second hand” or "passive inhalation" of marijuana smoke cause a positive urine drug test?

No. Urine concentrations of THC above the cutoff level are not possible by exposure to second hand smoke. Scientific studies have tested non-smoking individuals under conditions where other individuals are heavily smoking marijuana, and have determined non-smokers will not test positive. With a cutoff level of 50 ng/mL, an excuse of "second hand smoke" causing a positive urine test for marijuana is not accepted today in our legal system.

How long after cocaine use can it be detected in the urine?

Cocaine is excreted in the urine primarily as the metabolite benzoylecgonine in a short period of time. Benzoylecgonine can be generally detected for 24 to 60 hours after cocaine use or exposure. Exact clearance rate times can't be determined since the metabolic rate of everyone is individualized depending on weight and other factors.

My client has recently been to the Dentist – Will the test result for cocaine be positive?

No. The local anesthetics used in dentistry are synthetic and structurally not the same as cocaine or crack cocaine and will not be detected by our EMIT screening test.

Is it possible for a drug test to be positive for alcohol as a result of diabetes?

Yes. It is possible for a drug test to be positive for alcohol as a result of diabetes. Individuals who suffer from diabetes commonly exhibit renal malfunction that results in an excessive amount of glucose and protein in their urine. In the presence of yeast or bacteria, urinary glucose can be converted to alcohol by fermentation. Therefore, a person with diabetes and who has a urinary tract infection might have alcohol in their urine in spite of an absence of alcohol consumption. A laboratory should test every specimen that is positive for alcohol for the presence of glucose and report the results of the test. When glucose is detected it is possible that the alcohol is a result of urinary glucose fermentation and not consumption. In the absence of the test for glucose or for bacteria, a simple procedure can be employed to test for fermentation by leaving the specimen at room temperature for several hours and retesting the sample. If the level increases, the specimen is undergoing fermentation. It is possible that the glucose is completely consumed by fermentation. This usually results in an extremely high urine alcohol level (>1%), pressurization of the specimen container and the smell of yeast. Urine specimens that exhibit an alcohol level of greater than 0.5% should be checked for evidence of fermentation.

There is a new laboratory test called Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) that does not cause fermentation. EtG is a minor metabolite of ethanol (ethyl alcohol) and is formed in vivo as a consequence of alcohol consumption. A small fraction (0.02%) of a dose of alcohol is conjugated in the liver with glucuronic acid to form ethyl glucuronide. This compound is excreted in the urine. EtG can be detected in the blood for up to 36 hours and in the urine for up to 5 days or 80 hours after heavy alcohol use. A positive finding of EtG in urine of an individual provides strong evidence that the person recently consumed alcohol, even if the alcohol itself is no longer detectable. Therefore, this compound is regarded as a biomarker of alcohol consumption and, potentially, relapses of alcohol use by an individual who is under restriction.

Will eating poppy seed food products cause a false positive for opiates?

Poppy seeds contain small amounts of opium, and eating foods with poppy seeds may cause a sample to screen positive for opiates at the 300 ng/mL cutoff level. However, upon confirmation tests by GC/MS, the laboratory and/or the Medical Review Officer (MRO) can look at the ratios of the component opiates (morphine, codeine) and their metabolites to report the correct result.

Additionally, if the cutoff level of the test is the revised standard of 2000 ng/ml for opiates, this is not possible. Sensitivity standards were raised in the year 2000 from 300 ng/mL to 2000 ng/mL to eliminate the possibility of false positive results that were possible from consumption of large quantities of poppy seeds or poppy seed paste at the lower sensitivity level.

What is the difference between morphine, heroin and codeine?

Chemically speaking, nothing. All three of these drugs are derived from opium or the opium chemical structure and are in the opiate class of drugs. The difference is primarily in the manner in which opium is refined or synthetically manufactured and the form and method of delivery. Heroin is quickly metabolized to morphine. The body also changes codeine (used in some cold medicines) to morphine. Therefore, the presence of morphine in the urine indicates heroin, morphine and/or codeine use.

What prescription drugs could interfere and cause a positive morphine (opiates) test?

Codeine and Meperidine are structurally related to morphine therefore causing presumptive positive results. Codeine is a commonly prescribed pain medication and is also the active ingredient in some prescription cough medicines. These forms of codeine can also be addictive and abused. A GC/MS confirmation of a presumptive positive EMIT opiates screen can determine if heroin use is indicated.

What is the difference between Methamphetamine and Amphetamine?

Both amphetamine and methamphetamine are potent symphathomimetic agents. Methamphetamine is the parent drug. It metabolizes (or is converted) into amphetamine in the body. Methamphetamine and/or amphetamine are excreted in the urine and a positive result for Amphetamine can also be interpreted as a positive test for methamphetamine .

What does PCP mean?

Phencyclidine (PCP) is chemically an arylcyclohexylamine. The most common street name is "angel dust".
FAQ ORAL SALIVA ON SITE TESTING ORAL FLUID SCREENING DEVICES (Frequently Asked Questions)

What are the Forensic Laboratories On-Site Oral Screening Devices?

The On-Site Oral Screening device offers an easy-to-use, non-invasive method for the detection of multiple drugs in oral fluids. This cutting-edge technology offers a unique, gender-neutral design that eliminates urine collection. With the On-Site Oral screening device, your agency can reduce collection site fees, the need for special equipment, same sex collectors and complicated training. This test can be performed on-site anytime, anywhere, and offers quick results.

How does the On-Site Oral screening device work?

The On-Site Oral screening device is a lateral flow, chromatographic immunoassay for the qualitative detection of multiple drugs and their metabolites in oral fluids based on the principle of competitive binding. Simply drop the collected oral fluid specimen into the device well and read in 10 minutes.
As with all of Forensic Laboratories products, a detailed product insert is included with every order.
Telephonic training and support is provided to all clients via our toll-free hotline at (800) 282-6574.

What is the principle of the On-Site Oral screening device?

The oral fluids test is based on competitive binding. Drugs that may be present in the oral fluid specimen compete against their respective drug conjugate for biding sites on their antibody. During testing, a portion of the orrla fluid sample migrates across the membrane. If no drug is present above the cut-off, the sample will not saturate the binding sites of its specific antibody. The antibody will then react with drug-protein conjugate and a visible colored line will show up in the test line region. The presence of a drug above the cut-off concentration will saturate all the binding sites of the antibody and a line will not form in the test region. The lateral flow is the migration and competition across the membrane.

To serve as a procedural control, a colored line will appear at the control line region, indication that proper volume of specimen has been added and membrane wicking has occurred.

What are the benefits of On-Site Oral testing vs. other drug testing methods?

There are a numerous benefits to using the Forensic Laboratories On-Site Oral screening device.
Eliminate urine collections and collector fees
Observable, gender-neutral collections without privacy issues
Non-invasive
Easy to read test results
Testing integrity (difficult to adulterate)
Results ready in 10 minutes- This allows for immediate decision or treatment

Complete testing kit includes all components for testing including an easy-to-follow product insert. Telephonic training and support is available to all clients via our toll-free hotline at (800) 282-6574.