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Information on Drug Testing
Most drug testing
is broken down into two categories, urine testing or urinalysis and
hair testing. The labs are not looking for drugs in urine samples;
they are looking for drug metabolites. Once the body takes in a
substance, the end product looks much different, once it passes
through. Alcohol goes in as beer, gets oxidized by the liver, and
comes out as water. Drugs go in the body in the psychedelic form and
come out as a metabolite. The psychoactive ingredient in marijuana
is 11-nor-D-9-tetrahyrocanibinol (THC). This is oxidized by the body
and comes out as 31 different metabolites. The most prevalent form
is 11-nor-D-9-tetrahyrocanibinolic acid (THCA). Marijuana is passed from the lungs to the blood stream, and while
the drug is freely floating in the body in sufficient quantity a
high is felt. Marijuana is liposoluble, meaning it absorbs into fat
cells. The drug is stored in the fat cells indefinitely untill the
body burns the fat cells for energy. When the cell is burned, the
drug is metabolized and released back into the blood stream. This is
why marijuana can be detected for 30 days after a substantial usage.
Urinalysis is typically separated into two separate sections, the
drug screen and the drug test or confirmation. There is a huge
difference between a drug screen (EMIT) and a drug test. Most drug
testing procedures utilize a drug screen and test (GC/MS). However,
some employers or institutions in an attempt to cut costs will only
use drug screens. The screen is always performed first and is
usually followed by a test or confirmation. Drug Testing is broken
down in the following percentages:
Hair Testing -- 5% Screen with GC/MS -- 80%
Screen Only -- 5% FPIA (Screen) -- 5%
· GC/MS = Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry
· Screen = EMIT - Enzyme Multiplied Immunoassay Test (Trade name
for the most popular screen used in drug testing field manufactured
by Dade Behring )
· FPIA = Florescence Polarization Immunoassay - Abbott Labs version
of a screen
D.O.T - a DOT test is the abbreviation for a Department of
Transportation. This means the testing guidelines have been
regulated by the DOT, and if the guidelines are not followed the
results are considered invalid. Not all tests are DOT regulated, but
most are. To make the testing process easier companies follow the
DOT guidelines to minimize mistakes.
The first test for the DOT is a five panel EMIT. The cut off for
marijuana on the screen is 50 ng/ml, which is a composite of all 31
metabolite concentrations. If the sample is below this level the
test is over as a passing status. If the sample is over 50 ng/ml the
sample is sent on to a GC/MS for confirmation. The cutoff for the
confirmation is lower at 15 ng/ml because the machine only
identifies one of the 31 metabolites which is the
11-nor-D-9-tetrahyrocanibinolic acid. To pass, the one metabolite
must be below the 15-ng/ml cutoff. Urine LuckTM works best on DOT
tests which utilize a GC/. The chart below summarizes five drugs of
abuse found on the screen.
Drug # of Metabolites EMIT cut off GC/MS cut off
Marijuana 31 50 ng/ml 15 ng/ml
Cocaine 4 300 ng/ml 150 ng/ml
Opiates 3 2000 ng/ml 2000 ng/ml
Phencyclidine 1 25 ng/ml 25ng/ml
Amphetamines 5 1000 ng/ml 500 ng/ml
DOT tests are the hardest test to pass if the donor does not use a
detoxifying product. However, if a detoxifying product is used, the
DOT is the easiest test pass. Each type of detoxifying product works
via a unique mechanism on drug tests. Refer to the product sections
of this report for the mechanism information and explanation.
Guidelines for the DOT test procedures, reporting, and adulteration,
can be found on the Department of Health and Human Services or the
Department of Transportation web page at www.dot.gov/ost/dapc/guidelines/Urine.htm.
Blood Test - Often people will be given a blood test and a
urinalysis. These are for two totally different types of tests being
performed. Blood is normally drawn for detection of diseases such as
AIDS. Drug toxins can only be detected for 48 hours in the blood
after consumption. For this reason the urine is tested for toxins
instead of the blood.
Hair Tests - Toxins are circulated throughout the body via the blood
stream. The blood feeds the hair while it is in the growth stage at
the scalp. As the hair is formed the toxins are trapped inside the
hair folic. The toxins then grow away from the scalp as time passes.
If the use of toxins is stopped, the hair by the scalp is clean, but
the middle of the hair or ends of hair will retain the toxins until
cut off. The level of toxins is greatest near the scalp. Sunlight
and chemicals added to the hair in dyes or shampoos will oxidize the
drug metabolites over years, and can reduce the level of metabolites
by 75%.
For this reason, the hair sample is clipped from the back neck
(nape) near the scalp by the examiner. Once sent to a laboratory the
hair is dissolved with organic solvents. Once in a liquid solution,
the toxins are freed from within the hair follicle. Extraction is
performed on the liquid and drug toxins are removed. Once the drug
metabolites are isolated a GC/MS is performed with urinalysis
testing and quantitative level is provided.
Our company is against drug testing, especially drug testing without cause. One of the issues of drug testing is that it does NOT test for the use of drugs on the job. Drug testing doesn't test for impairment or intoxication, it tests for drug metabolites which can stay in the body for weeks - long after the effects of any drug. We feel that an employee should be judged by his/her performance and productivity. What a person does on their own time in the privacy of their home is their business. If an employee has been coming into work on time and finishing all of their assignments, why should they be tested for drugs? If a person has been employed with a company for years and their evaluations have been exemplary, why would they need to be drug tested? We believe that drug testing goes against our 4th and 5th Amendment rights.
The 4th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmations, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
The 5th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution: "No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation."
Drug tests also violate the constitutional guarantee of presumption of innocence, placing the burden of proof on the accused. By being required to give a sample, the worker is forced to defend himself or herself against a charge without any evidence or suspicion. American workers are now treated as guilty until proven innocent!
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Drug Testing Resources |
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