Origin Diagnostics Drug Testing

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This question is asked by many different people, and for good reason. Marijuana is the most commonly used and tested for drug in the United States and several other countries as well. Marijuana is also the drug that is more likely to stay in your system for days, weeks, or even an entire month after the last time that you smoke.

Therefore, even though marijuana is one of the least harmful drugs out there, it is also the most likely drug to cause you to fail a drug test.

When you ask the question “How long does marijuana stay in your system?” you need to take into account the fact that there is no simple answer to this question. Quite simply, it’s argued both that THC never leaves your brain, as well as that there are several different factors which can affect whether or not you test positive for marijuana use.

The speed at which marijuana leaves your body depends both on the speed of your metabolism, as well as on the half life of THC. Unlike most other substances, the half-life of THC can vary quite a bit, depending on who is using it, when it’s used, and several other factors. For example, it’s estimated that THC can have a half life that ranges anywhere from 1-10 days. It’s almost impossible to find out what that half life is, which means that it is very difficult to use it to calculate how long it will take for all of the THC to leave your body.

Not only that, but your metabolism and how much marijuana you smoked will also have an effect on the length of time that it will take you before you can test without testing positive for marijuana use. After all, the half-life is only the length of time that it takes for you to lose half of the THC that is in your system. If you’ve smoked a lot of marijuana, then it will take you longer before the THC in your body drops back below the amount that is detectable by most drug tests.

For this reason, when you ask “How long does marijuana stay in your system?” you have to realize that it’s very unlikely that you’ll be able to get a usable answer. The most common period of time is anywhere from 3-30 days, depending on your metabolism and the amount of marijuana that you’ve smoked. This is unfortunate, since it means that while most drug tests can only turn up evidence of other drugs if you’ve been taking the drug within a few days of the drug test, marijuana could still be detected in a urine test up to a month after the last time it is used.

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Be aware that certain foods and over-the-counter medications can cause you to test “positive” for various kinds of drugs.

Poppy seeds, for example, can show up on a drug test as morphine. Cold remedies that contain codeine can also cause a positive result for morphine.

Valium reportedly can produce erroneous indications of phencyclidine (PCP), and other cold remedies can apparently produce false reports of methamphetamine usage.

Dextromethorphan can produce a falsely positive qualitative urine opiate screening.

The widespread availability of hemp-containing products, including everything from hemp-seed oil nutritional supplements to hemp-seed candy, cookies, cheese, bread, cooking oil, and general seasoning, means that ingesting ANY of these products could potentially cause a false positive result on a test for marijuana.

Ibuprofen, contained in Advil, Nuprin, and Mortin, can make a positive result for marijauna. The EMIT test (an immunoassay test) has therefore been changed to use a different enzyme to eliminate false positives due to Ibuprofen. Ibuprofen in very high doses will still interfere with both the EMIT and the gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) test.

Ibuprofen is a common pain reliever that (even in low dosages) used to cause a false THC positive on the EMIT test. The EMIT has been changed to use a different enzyme to eliminate false positives due to Ibuprofen. Ibuprofen in very high doses will still interfere with both the EMIT and the GC-MS. There is some conflicting data here because some sources say that the GC-MS tests can distinguish between Ibuprofen and THC (as well as other over-the-counter drugs).

Common over the counter cold, asthma, and allergy remedies and diet pills such as Diatec, Dexatrim, Cotylenol, Triaminic, Primatene, Bronkotabs, and Nyquil can show up as positive for amphetamines.

Vicks Formula-44, Demerol, Mydol, Primatene-M and common prescription antidepressants such as Elavil and Tofanil can show up as positive for opiates such as opium and heroin.

Ephedra, also known as Ephedra Alkaloids or “MaHuang Extract” has a chemical structure which is closely related to amphetamine, and can reportedly give a false positive for amphetamines. Often sold as an “energy pill” it is an effective decongestant in low doses.

Valerian root is reported to cause false positives for benzodiazepines. Other herbal supplements such as Kava Kava and St Johns Wort may also affect body chemistry such that false positives are produced.

Zoloft (Wellbutrin) is reported to cause false positives in urine screens, although for what specific substance isn’t clear.

Primatene can also show up as positive for barbiturates, and Benadryl can show up positive for Methadone.

Some additional over the counter medicines that may cause various kinds of drug test interactions include Alka-Seltzer plus, Allerest, Bronkaid, Contac, Donnagel, Sinuntab, and Sudafed.

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CLIA refers to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments. These amendments were passed by the Congress way back in 1988. These laws stipulate that laboratory testing procedures should ensure timeliness, accuracy and dependability irrespective of the location of the tests.

What is a CLIA waiver?
Every laboratory and home test has its own unique requirements. Certain tests can be highly complex and may require specialized equipment. If these tests satisfy certain conditions they can be exempt or waived from all regulatory procedures. In other words, these tests are cleared by FDA and can be performed at home. Most of these tests are very simple to carry out and use standardized equipment, which makes chances of an inaccuracy impossible. Such tests are referred to as a CLIA waived.
Which tests are CLIA waived?
There are specific tests which have been CLIA waived. These are:
Tests performed for urinalysis using a tablet or a dipstick: These include tests to ascertain the presence of protein, urobilinogen, hemoglobin, bilirubin, nitrite, pH, glucose levels, leukocytes, ketone, specific gravity etc.
- Pregnancy tests: There are many home kits available these days, which make it easy for a woman to determine if she is pregnant.
- Occult blood of the fetus
- Non-automated method of estimating the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation
- Ovulation tests: This involves performing color comparisons visually to ascertain luteinizing hormones
- Non-automated methods of detecting copper sulfate in hemoglobin
- Using glucose measuring mechanisms to ascertain blood glucose levels
Things to keep in mind
In order to have a particular laboratory test get CLIA waived, you need a certificate from the FDA. This certificate has to be issued from the Secretary. If you already have a certificate and it is about to expire, you need to get it renewed. The certificate can be rejected for renewal if your laboratory fails to comply with the regulations stipulated as per the CLIA law. A CLIA waived test should be so easy and simple to perform that even if it is done improperly it does not harm the patient in any manner. In cases where the laboratory application for a CLIA waiver has been disapproved the Secretary will issue a notice of the same. From that date onwards, the certificate will continue to be valid for a period of 60 days or longer if the second application is made in a timely manner.
Factors considered for a CLIA waiver
There are several aspects that are taken into consideration when treating a laboratory test as CLIA waived. Various factors like the quality control being used and method of calibration, processes and examination procedures in use, interpretation mechanisms, how much of independent judgment is required, training needed for instrument usage and operation as well as other associated factors are assessed before passing a test as CLIA waived. Regular inspections will also be conducted by the Secretary to ascertain that the procedures of the laboratory are in strict compliance with the stipulations as per CLIA law. Laboratories, which are accredited as per CLIA laws will be inspected as and when deemed necessary by the Secretary. Those laboratories, which are not accredited will be inspected on a bi-annual basis.

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When the subject of drug testing is discussed, most people think of marijuana, cocaine, heroin or ecstasy – but did you know that there is also a drug test for tobacco usage? That’s right, the same immunoassay technology that is used to detect illicit drugs can also be used to detect cotinine – a metabolite created when the body processes nicotine.

Testing for the presence of cotinine is a standard test to determine if a person is a tobacco user. Cotinine is found in urine from 2 to 4 days after tobacco use. By testing a urine sample, much like a pregnancy test, the tester can detect cotinine.

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Chain of custody is the term used to describe the process of ensuring and providing documentation of proper specimen identification and handling from the time of specimen collection to the reporting of laboratory results. If laboratory results were to be legally challenged, the ability to prove that the specimen was handled according to strict chain of custody procedures is essential. The chain of custody protocol assures the specimen belongs to the individual whose information is printed on the specimen container label, no post-collection adulteration or tampering has taken place, exactly who had possession of the specimen and when, how the specimen was transported and stored before it was analyzed, no unauthorized access to the specimen was possible, and the specimen was handled in a secure manner.

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Recently there has been extensive research on the use of saliva in drug testing. A person’s saliva has certain advantages and certain disadvantages when comparing the use of urine in testing for the presence of drugs. The most obvious advantage is simply that the collection procedure is easier and less prone to possible efforts to beat the drug test by substituting a clean drug test sample as is sometimes the case in urine drug testing. The ease at which a person’s saliva can be tested make  saliva drug tests less invasive than other forms of drug testing. The collection of saliva for saliva drug tests is easier and safer when compared to urine or blood.

It simply involves using a swab that looks very similar to a common toothbrush but in place of bristles a pad that servers, to collect the saliva in the mouththe pad is then placed between the lower cheek and gum for about two minutes. Once saturated with saliva the pad is then transfered to a collection vial. Many of the most commonly abused drugs can be detected in saliva including marijuana, thc, heroin, cocaine and amphetamines.
However there are disadvantages and those mostly relate to the short drug detection time limitation of saliva drug tests.
Simply put saliva cannot be used to detect historical drug use.
Most drugs do not linger in saliva and disappear in anywhere from twelve to twenty four hours. Because of this saliva testing is being considered for drug detection in situations where recent drug use must be detected including vehicle and equipment drivers, those involved in workplace or other accidents and not as a use to detect past drug use.
What is saliva? The actual medical definition of saliva is oral liquids produced by the many saliva glands in the human anatomy. The average adult produces in excess of one thousand millileters of saliva on a daily basis.
How reliable are saliva drug tests? An extensive study by the University of Utah in Salt Lake City concludes that it is a reliable method for drug detection. The universities’ Center for Human Toxicology concluded that drug use and drug concentrations can be determined by analyzing saliva.

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It is a screening device. One of the best ways to protect your business is to aggressively screen out alcohol or drug abusers before they become employees. Drug tests can help pinpoint those who are dependent on alcohol and drugs.
It is a defensive tool. Giving applicants a drug test protects your company from negligent hiring claims arising from violence or safety violations. It is also true that drug abusers tend to avoid firms that test.
It may be a legal requirement. For certain safety-sensitive positions and occupations, drug and alcohol testing of applicants is mandated by federal or state law.

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Drug testing amongst employees is carried out by employers in order to find out about problems related to drug addiction amongst their employees. As the problem of drug addiction is a very serious one which affects the professional life of a person, it is in the best interests of the company to find out if any of their employees are indulging in any drug related malpractices.

Though drug testing requires an initial investment by the company, the benefits it provides are many. Most companies follow a two pronged strategy; they screen all new recruits for drug abuse, and also carry out random checks among their existing team members. As drug abuse spreads like cancer, it is better to find out the root of the problem, if it exists, and remove it as soon as possible. This will lead to a much healthier working environment at the organization. Absenteeism due to drug abuse related diseases will be reduced. Problems arising out of accidents at the workplace and also that of turnover will be reduced. As a combination of the above factors the productivity of the company goes up and as a result it enhances the profit margins of the company.

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GHB is the common name for gamma gydroxybutyric. It is a drug legitimately used to treat insomnia, narcolepsy and depression. This drug is also used as a general anesthetic. However, GHB is also used for date rape, along with other date rape drugs such as Ketamine and Rohypnol.

GHB is a tasteless, odorless and colorless drug. It can be very difficult to notice if someone has slipped it into your food or drink, which means that you should always be very careful about accepting food or drink from strangers whenever you go out. The initial symptoms of drug abuse can be very difficult to recognize, especially if you are not familiar with what to watch out for.

Signs and symptoms of GHB in the system can begin to show 10 to 20 minutes after you have consumed the drug. Depending on the dosage, the effects of the drug can last anywhere from 3 to 6 hours.

1. The first sign of drug abuse is an unusual sense of relaxation. You will feel as if you are merely intoxicated by alcohol. Moderate amounts of GHB can cause someone to lower his or her inhibitions. You will also start to feel drowsy and it is very possible that you will eventually pass out.

2. GHB can also make it difficult for you to think properly. You may have an impaired sense of judgment. You may also begin to experience hallucinations and later on experience insomnia.

3. Another symptom of drug abuse is amnesia or memory loss. GHB can cause someone to pass out and wake up with no memory of what happened a few hours before. Some victims of this drug find it extremely difficult to remember simple facts.

4. Another symptom that you were abused is nausea and possibly even vomiting. You will also have difficulty breathing, especially if GHB was mixed with alcohol and other drugs.

5. You may begin to experience tremors and migraines. You might begin to sweat profusely. These are also common signs of GHB in your system.

6. A common sign of drug abuse is slurred speech and the inability to form coherent sentences. You may be more talkative, but you may not necessarily be making any sense.

7. As GHB enters your body, your anxiety level will either increase or decrease. As the drug leaves your body, it will increase your heart rate and possibly cause hypertension.

8. Upon waking up, inspect your genital area for a physical sign of any abrasions or bruises. Signs of a struggle may mean you were drugged with GHB and were a victim of date rape.

These are some of the most common signs and symptoms of GHB abuse. If you notice that you have some of these symptoms, then immediately call a family member or go to the nearest police station.

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The federal government estimates that 71 percent of illegal drug users are employed, most working for small businesses.

It is estimated that employee drug use costs American employers over $100 billion each year. If you don’t have an employee drug screening program, you’re costing your company money.

Costs without Drug Screening:
Increased employee absenteeism
(66 percent higher absenteeism among drug users)
Costs in accidents and damages
(5 times more likely to file a workers’ compensation claim)
Increased costs for health care
(health benefit utilization is 84 percent greater in dollar terms)
Losses due to employee theft/fraud (disciplinary actions are 90 percent higher among drug users)

Benefits of Drug Screening:
Fewer accidents
Fewer disciplinary actions
Reduced losses due to absenteeism, theft, and fraud
Lower costs due to losses and errors
Reduced costs of insurance claims
Decreased legal costs and costs of hiring and training new employees
Earlier identification and resolution of problems affecting job performance