Drug Testing
We are a group of health professionals specializing in lab testing for HIV, STDs, & various drug test options. This blog is operated and maintained as a service to the public. The purpose of this blog is to promote knowledge and understanding about the various questions and concerns associated with STD testing and drug testing. We welcome you to submit your question but please realize we cannot possibly respond to every question. As our blog grows you may find the answer to your question has already been addressed by another blog post.
This blog is sponsored by the staff at AMH Nationwide. It is intended for information purposes only and is not designed to take the place of your primary care physician or attorney. If you are experiencing a medical emergency you should contact your health care provider or the nearest emergency room.
Drug test for Kratom 18 panel drug test
Written By admin onThe mother of my son’s friend called me tonight and told me that my child was doing Kratom. What is Kratom and do you offer drug testing for Kratom?
M****** M****** San Diego, Ca
Kratom is a plant which is native to Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Kratom leaves can be chewed and dry Kratom can be swallowed or brewed in a tea. Kratom extract can be used to make liquid products which are often marketed as a pain reliever, anti-diarrheal, and for treating panic disorders.
Kratom can affect the brain in the same way as an opioid. It affects the brain receptors as morphine and exposes the user to the risk of addiction, abuse and dependence. Kratom can also have a stimulant-like effect. Kratom and Kratom based products are currently legal and accessible in many areas throughout the United States. Even though it is legal, there are no uses for Kratom that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Some people use Kratom for managing drug withdrawal symptoms and for pain, fatigue and mental health problems.
Many people who take Kratom believe in its value but, researchers who have studied Kratom think that its side effects outweigh any potential benefits. Kratom has a number of known side effects, including weight loss, dry mouth, chills, nausea, vomiting, changes in urine, constipation, liver damage and muscle pain. Kratom also affects the mind and nervous system causing dizziness, drowsiness, hallucinations, delusion, depression, delusion, breathing suppression, seizure, coma, and death. Kratom is subject to dependence and withdrawal symptoms including muscle aches, insomnia, irritability, hostility, aggression, emotional changes, runny nose, and jerky movement.
Currently, we have one laboratory that we use that can provide a drug test for Kratom. We have test for Kratom in hair, urine and nail bed drug samples. Kratom is available in the 18-panel hair and nail drug test. The hair drug test and nail bed tests can detect abuse by trapping the keratin fibers and as the specimen grows it can detect substances for up to 3 months in hair (or longer if body hair) and 3-6 months in the nail. For comparison, a urinalysis drug screening has a typical lookback window of about 1-3 days. Urinalysis for Kratom is offered in an add-on or stand-alone test.
Hair and nail samples are easy to collect, non-intrusive and can be shipped without any biohazard restrictions. Collection sites use hair and nail testing to get a baseline level for the donor to have. Urinalysis is easy to collect at a collection site and sent into the lab with results in 1-3 days.
Dilute urine drug screen for SAP
Written By admin onHello, I am an SAP and one of my clients had a urine drug screen result labeled a diluted specimen. I wonder if this was done on purpose. What exactly does that mean and how can my clients avoid that in the future?
C*** L***** Baton Rouge, LA
C*** Hello! I would love to answer that for you! A “diluted specimen” is a urinalysis that has a higher than average water content. In most cases, this means that your client drank too many fluids, usually water, before they went to take their drug screen. Drinking too many fluids before a drug screen may or may not be intentional. Sometimes, the specimen donor is afraid they will not be able to provide a urine sample for their drug test and therefore drink a lot of fluids ahead of time. We also see more dilute specimens in the summertime, and in industries where employees have to hydrate more. There are even medical conditions that can cause a urine drug screen to be diluted. A negative dilute is still considered a negative and not a violation. There should be no violation consequences for a negative dilute drug test result but most of our substance abuse professionals will require the donor to retest. A negative dilute is what the lab reports when the specimen is diluted enough to possibly miss detection of a substance in the sample. A positive dilute result refers to a specimen that has tested positive for a drug or its metabolite, and while the urine sample was diluted it was still able to detect the given drug. Whether the dilution of the urine sample was intentional or accidental, a retest for a positive dilute is likely a good idea as well. If you have more questions, please call us at 618-505-0364.
Schedule drug test for substance abuse professional
Written By admin onHi, I am a substance abuse professional (SAP), What do my clients need when they call in to schedule a drug screen?
M****** T***** San Jose, CA
Hi! We have a few substance abuse professionals as clients and would love to help you and your clients! After you have made a company file with us and your clients start to call in, they will need to provide us with a bit of information about themselves, give consent for the drug screen results to be sent to your company and pay the fee associated with each drug screen test. When one of your clients (we call them a specimen donor) calls us, we will ask for their name, address, date of birth, zip code, phone number, email, and consent. We then ask them for the credit card number that they would like to use to purchase a drug test. We know that many SAP professionals require multiple drug tests, so we give them the option of purchasing one or more tests at a time. Once the drug screen is paid for, we will create a lab order and send it to them via their email address. The results take one to three days to come in, once they are in, we will call them and give them their results and email them, as well. We will ask the donor if they give consent to send the drug screen results to your company and if they agree, we will send them to your email/fax. Remember that samples that are rejected (QNS) or canceled cannot be counted as a failed test, another test must be rescheduled pursuant to DOT rule 49 cfr part 40 section 40.309. Reasons that a sample could be rejected (QNS): quantity is not sufficient, temperature out of range, misapplied seal, integrity check is out of range. Quantity is not sufficient or QNS happens when someone gets a shy bladder. If your client gets a shy bladder and cannot use the restroom the sample will be rejected/canceled for QNS or will get labeled as refused. If you have any more questions or would like to sign your company up with us, please call 618-505-0364.
Drug test for SAP
Written By admin onDrug test for SAP. I am an SAP and one of my clients has a prescription for an amphetamine. How will that show up in the results?
T***** C*******, Tampa, Fl
Hello T***** That is a great question to ask us! I am glad that you did! Most SAP accounts just need a 5 panel drug test which will test for amphetamines, including the commonly prescribed Adderall. If your client receives a non-negative drug screen test, it is first automatically confirmed by a second methodology called GCMS (gas chromatography mass spectrometry). Once the drug test is confirmed positive (by both methodologies) the positive drug in question will go to the medical review office (MRO). The purpose of medical review is to determine if the positive drug test is prescription related. If a drug screen ends up at the medical review office, we will contact your client and give them the phone number to that office and their specimen identification number. Your client then has the opportunity to discuss their prescription with the MRO. Once they call the medical review office, the MRO they will ask for verification of the prescription. The MRO can verify prescriptions many different ways, such as calling your client’s pharmacy or doctor but, once they verify the prescription (with your client’s consent), the drug screen results will be amended to reflect that prescription. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 618-505-0364!
4-Panel Hair Drug Testing
Written By admin on4-Panel Hair Drug Testing
Hair drug testing—alternatively called hair strand or hair follicle drug testing—is a common method of detecting employee usage of illicit recreational substances such as narcotics. This type of test has several key advantages over urine drug testing: (1) It is relatively difficult to falsify a hair drug test, as samples are collected directly from the employee by a technician; and (2) evidence of drug use is present in body hair much longer than in urine. For that reason, hair testing is frequently a part of pre-employment screenings and/or a condition of ongoing employment.
A hair drug test is often mandated in certain industries to ensure compliance with federal law. For instance, any organization that accepts a federal contract (with a value of at least $100,000) or a federal grant of any value is subject to the substance-abuse-testing guidelines of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988. These organizations often rely on this testing method to detect drugs. In addition, many private employers require hair drug testing for workplace safety reasons, although their right to compel employees to participate in these programs may be limited by state law.
What Drugs Does It Detect?
A standard 4-panel hair drug test can detect the presence of the following substances:
- Cocaine
- PCP (phencyclidine)
- Opioids (including heroin and morphine)
- Amphetamines (including methamphetamine and ecstasy)
Incidentally, a 5-panel test detects all the above as well as marijuana (THC) .
When properly collected, hair samples used in a 4-panel test can yield evidence of drug abuse that occurred within the past 90 days. This is a significantly longer window of detection than is possible with urine testing. For instance, cocaine and amphetamines usually disappear from urine within a few days.
However, very recent drug use—within the past 5 to 10 days—may not be detectable in the sample, for the simple fact that it takes time for hair to grow. Therefore, drug metabolites will not be immediately apparent.
After the sample is collected, it is sent to a laboratory for analysis. Hair drug test results can be made available usually within 3 to 5 days.
How Is the Hair Collected?
Hair is generally cut with scissors from the occipital scalp of the subject’s head. Although the procedure is sometimes called “hair follicle drug testing,” this is misleading—the follicles themselves are not part of the drug test screening. Hair is usually removed from three spots in this area, then carefully placed in a hair kit. Generally, samples should be 1.5 to 2 inches in length.
For some subjects, it’s not possible to follow this procedure to collect hair samples. Some individuals have bald heads; other subjects may have very short hair (less than one-half inch) that precludes the collection of sufficiently long strands. In these cases, hairs may be removed from other areas of the body, such as the chest, leg, beard, or underarm.
Ordering a Hair Drug Test
With AMH Nationwide, employers and individuals can easily obtain the lab drug test orders they need. We work with many top labs across the U.S., including Omega Laboratories, LabCorp, United States Drug Testing Laboratories, and Quest Diagnostics.
Non-marijuana hair drug testing is available for employers who do not need to test for this substance, and who wish to avoid the liability issues that may arise from prior knowledge of an employee’s use of marijuana. (This option is not available from certain labs.)
To get started, just call AMH Nationwide at (888) 493-2521.
What does it cost for a urine drug screen for S.A.P. program (substance abuse professional)
Written By admin onQuestion : Hello, I am an SAP and I was curious about how much your 5 panel drug tests are and how my client would pay for the tests?
Answer: Hello R***** Our 5 panel drug tests for Substance Abuse Professionals are set at the price of $69.99 a test. Our 5 panel drug screen tests for: Amphetamines, Methamphetamines, Cocaine/Metabolites, Marijuana (THC/Carboxy THC) , Opiates, and Phencyclidine (PCP). Most of the Substance Abuse Professionals require anywhere from 1-4 drug screening tests to be negative before passing on to the next phase of the program. We allow your clients to purchase 1 or more of the drug tests at a time, as we understand that they cannot return to work until they have completed the SAP program. When your client calls us, we will ask your client their name, address, email address, phone number, and consent to give their SAP results. We will also ask your client for credit card information to charge the $69.99. Once we get a payment, we will create their lab order and send it to their email. They will be told about not drinking too many fluids before testing so that they do not get a diluted specimen. The donor will also be reassured that if they have any problems at the collection site that they can call us while at the collection site and we will help them in any way that we can. Their results will be sent to us in 1-3 business days, maybe an extra day or two. Once we have the results, we will call the doner and give them the results and send you the results, as well. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at any time at 618-505-0364.
Urine Drug Screen for Substance Abuse Professional (S.A.P)
Written By admin onQuestion: I am a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP); I am looking for independent urine drug screens for my clients. What drugs are covered under the 5 panel test? What is the process for getting a drug test for them?
L**** S****** , Las Vegas, NV
Answer: Hello L**** We work with a few Substance Abuse Professionals! We can absolutely help you get started on helping your clients get back to their positions! Some Substance Abuse Professionals require 3 or 4 drug screen tests before they can move on in the program. We can provide lab orders to your clients for as many drug tests as they require. The first thing you will need to do is to set up a company file with us. Just give us a call at 888-493-2521 and we will start the process. We will need to get some basic information about your company so we can begin registering for a urine drug screen. Once you are registered and have a file, you will just need to give your clients our phone number and they can begin calling to register with us and receive their lab orders. Each independent 5 Panel drug test is usually $69.99. The 5 panel drug test covers: amphetamines, cocaine metabolites, marijuana metabolites, opiates, phencyclidine. It will also include the creatinine, PH, and oxidizing adulterants in the urine. When your clients call to register for their test, they need to tell us that they are calling to be registered under your company name. They will be put on hold while we get the file and they will be asked for their name, date of birth, zip code, address, phone number and email address. They will be told the cost of the test is $69.99 and ask what a good credit card number will be to run that amount on. We will run their card and after that gets approved, we will start their lab order. The collection site is chosen based on the zip code that is provided. We try to send them to the closest location to where they live. We create their lab order and send it to them via email. The lab order will have the collection site address that they will be going to. Once they get to the collection site, they will bring up the lab order on their smartphone (or print it out and take it with them) and the collection site will scan the code on the form. The results usually take 1-3 business days to come back to us. Once we get the results, we will then call your client and have them verify their identity. Once verified, we will give the results over the phone and then email them their results. If the client still gives us consent, we will then send the results directly to you! Your clients’ privacy is very important to us, so we will always make sure they give their consent to send the drug screen results. If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to call us at 618-505-0364!
What Are 17-Panel Drug Tests and How Do They Work?
Written By admin onWhat Are 17-Panel Drug Tests and How Do They Work?
There are a number of reasons why someone may need to take a drug test. Whatever the case, a 17-panel hair follicle drug test is one of the most effective ways to test for a wide range of substances.
What Does a 17-Panel Drug Test Test For?
As the name suggests, a 17-panel drug test looks for traces of 17 commonly abused substances. These include various stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, and more.
The 17 substance types are:
|
|
How 17-Panel Drug Screenings Work
Here’s a rough outline of how the testing works:
-
A testing professional collects a hair sample from the donor (the person being tested).
A 17-panel hair drug test with up to 90 days of history requires 90-120 strands of hair about 1.5-2” in length. We also offer extended detection times, in increments of 90 days, for those needing a 6 month, 9 month, 12 month hair drug test. Please keep in mind, you need long enough head hair to go back this far. The standard 90 day look back sample usually comes from the head, but it can also be taken from any body hair if it’s sufficient. Despite the name of the test, the specimen doesn’t actually include the follicle. Instead of plucking the hair, it’s cut very close to the skin.
-
The sample is sent and processed for analysis.
The processing lab uses specialized testing to identify any traces of the 17 substances in the hair, how much may have been used and how long ago it happened. The sample may be processed slightly differently depending on the goal of the test.
-
Results are returned in 1-7 business days.
Most hair drug test results come back in about 5-7 days, but it can take more or less time depending on various factors. In some cases, the results can be as soon as the next day, but others take longer.
How Much Does It Cost?
Pricing for a 17-panel comprehensive hair drug test varies by drug testing location. The best way to find out how much it will cost is to contact customer service directly and discuss your needs. At AMH Nationwide, we often have the most competitive prices in the area. Our pricing also covers any confirmation testing or medical review that may be required.
Unique Benefits and Clinical Applications
17-panel hair drug tests have a few advantages over other types of drug testing. In addition to testing for a wide range of drugs, longer detection periods can give clinicians and authorities a broader picture of a person’s substance use history. Plus, sample collection can be observed, preventing tampering.
This kind of testing can be used in a variety of situations, including (but not limited to):
- Pre-employment testing
- Child custody or divorce cases
- Clarification of urine drug testing results
- Probation testing requirements
- Personal testing for oneself or a loved one
- Post-rehab testing
- To contest a false positive hair, urine or nail drug test
Get Reliable Drug Testing with AMH Nationwide
Whether you’re an employer, agency or private citizen, you can trust us to provide professional, comprehensive drug testing with clear, reliable results. Learn more about our 17-panel hair testing process online or call us today at (866) 346-6715.
17 Panel Hair Drug Screen
Drug Class Screening Confirmation
Amphetamines *** pg/mg
Amphetamine ***pg/mg
Methamphetamines ***pg/mg
Methamphetamine Ecstasy (MDMA) ***pg/mg
MDA ***pg/mg
Barbiturates ***pg/mg
Phenobarbital Secobarbital ***pg/mg
Pentobarbital Amobarbital ***pg/mg
Butalbital ***pg/mg
Benzodiazepines ***pg/mg
Alprazolam Nordiazepam ***pg/mg
Clonazepam Oxazepam ***pg/mg
Diazepam Temazepam ***pg/mg
Lorazepam ***pg/mg
Buprenorphine/Metabolites ***pg/mg
Buprenorphine Norbuprenorphine ***pg/mg
Cocaine/Metabolites ***pg/mg
Cocaine ***pg/mg
Benzoylecgonine Cocaethylene ***pg/mg
Norcocaine ***pg/mg
Hydroxy metabolites (ortho,meta,para) ***pg/mg
Fentanyl/Metabolites ***pg/mg
Fentanyl ***pg/mg
Norfentanyl ***pg/mg
Marijuana (THC/Carboxy THC) ***pg/mg
Carboxy-THC ***pg/mg
Methadone/Metabolites ***pg/mg
Methadone ***pg/mg
EDDP ***pg/mg
Opiates ***pg/mg
Codeine Morphine ***pg/mg
Heroin Metabolite (6-MAM) ***pg/mg
Extended Opiates ***pg/mg
Hydrocodone Oxycodone ***pg/mg
Hydromorphone Oxymorphone ***pg/mg
Phencyclidine ***pg/mg ***pg/mg
Tramadol ***pg/mg ***pg/mg
Ketamine/Metabolite ***pg/mg
Ketamine ***pg/mg
Norketamine ***pg/mg
Meperidine/Metabolites ***pg/mg
Meperidine ***pg/mg
Normeperidine ***pg/mg
Propoxyphene ***pg/mg ***pg/mg
Zolpidem ***pg/mg ***pg/mg
15 Panel Drug Test: What Does It Test For?
Written By admin on15 Panel Drug Test: What Does It Test For?
A 15-panel drug test determines the presence or absence of a number of drugs that are commonly abused and their metabolites. When conducting pre-employment drug testing, court ordered drug testing, personal and family situations, divorce and child custody some individuals use the 15-panel drug test screen to determine whether parties are drug-free.
What Is the 15-Panel Drug Test?
The 15-panel drug test has 15 test panels that detect 15 different drugs and their metabolites. Unlike other tests, a 15-panel drug test can only use hair and fingernail samples, not urine.
Although the 15-panel drug test is highly effective, should you prefer using hair as a sample, the 17-panel option is more cost-effective. Unlike other drug screen tests, the 15-panel option is not available for at-home collection and must be taken under supervision.
Which Drugs or Classes of Drugs Are Detected?
The 15-panel hair and fingernail drug test can typically detect drug use for at least 90 days, possibly looking back much further when body hair and toenails are used.The 15-panel hair and fingernail drug tests screen for the following types of drugs:
- Amphetamines/Methamphetamine
- Cocaine
- Opiates and expanded prescription opiates
- PCP (Phencyclidine)
- Marijuana
- Benzodiazepines
- Barbiturates
- Methadone
- Propoxyphene
- Oxycodone
- Tramadol
- Meperidine/Demerol
- Fentanyl
- Sufentanil
- Ketamine
How 15-Panel Testing Works
Hair Testing | Fingernail Testing | |
Price | Pricing varies according to location. | Pricing varies according to location. |
Methodology |
|
● EIA (homogenous)
● Elisa (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) (heterogeneous) ● GCMS (Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry) confirmation technology |
Specimen Required | Testing requires 200-300 strands of hair samples from a person’s head that are 1 ½ inch to 2 inches in length. We can test on shorter head hair samples if needed. If body hair is used then about the quantity of almost two cotton balls is needed. | Testing requires a 150mg clipped fingernail or toenail sample.
(fingernails and toenails cannot be combined). |
Clinical Applications | Detects drug use for 90 days on head hair sample, body hair will likely look back up to 6 months or further.
Hair follicle drug testing allows for observed sample collection when tampering with a urine sample is suspected. |
Detects drug use for 90 days or more. A fingernail sample has an estimated 3-6 month lookback and toenail sample can possibly look back up to one year.
Fingernail or toenail drug testing allows for observed sample collection when tampering with a urine sample is suspected. |
15-Panel Testing FAQs
What if You Need a Hair Follicle Test but Your Hair Is on the Shorter Side?
To complete the 15-panel hair follicle test using head hair to look back the standard, estimated 90 days, your hair needs to be at least an inch and a half long. If your head hair is not this long, you can use body hair instead. If using body hair, the donor needs to have about the size of a cotton ball and a half from either their legs, arms, chest, underarms, or possibly pubic area.
We can also perform a head hair collection on hair shorter than an inch and a half, however this will shorten the look back to about 30 or 60 days.
What Fingernail Test Should You Take to Test for Special K?
Special K, also known as ketamine, can be tested using a 15-panel drug test.
15-Panel Hair/Fingernail Drug Testing with AMH
AMH Nationwide is a national testing lab agency with over 25 years of experience that provides reliable, affordable drug testing for individuals and employers. We make your job easy by taking care of all your drug testing requirements for one efficient and affordable cost.
If you’re interested in pre-employment, court ordered, personal use drug testing, or at-home drug testing, visit our website today to learn more or place an online order.