12.1 - Drug Testing
accessioning
Assigning a unique number for patient identification during testing
GC-MS (Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry)
Gold standard for drug testing; method for confirmatory testing
schedule 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
classification of drugs according to controlled substances
task people structure technology
components of drug testing labs
stimulants
increases alertness (e.g. amphetamine, caffeine, cocaine, shabu)
volatile substances
inhalants, solvents, aerosol bases: moth balls, furniture polish, insecticides, air fresheners
R.A. 10586
Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Law; updates from Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act are found here
Form DT-002A (donor's copy) Form DT-002B (copy for collection site) Form DT-002C (copy for the lab) note: Form DT-002D (to be filled up by the DTL for confirmatory lab; for positive tests only)
CCF forms to be filled up by donor
R.A. 9165
Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002; safeguards the state and its citizen from dangerous drugs; "drug-free country by 2011"
hallucinogens
affects sensation & emotion (e.g. ecstasy, marijuana, LSD, PCP)
psychotropic substances
any substances under controlled category; pertaining to any drug or agent having a psychological effect on an individual
Bureau of Health Facilities Services (BHFS: DOH)
aside from the requesting agency and the client, to what other agency must the DTL submit a copy of the drug test result?
structure
basic arrangement of people in the laboratory
donor name donor code date of collection time of collection bottle cap w/ donor's signature, time & date ASC initials broken tamper-evident seal if sent to confirmatory lab: must be placed in ziplock with HOL and analyst signatures
bottle labelling for drug tests
natural (raw opium, marijuana, coca bush) synthetic (methampetamine, barbiturates)
classification of drugs according to origin
1. donor is physically unable to go 2. involved in crime scene 3. involved in post-accident 4. critically ill
conditions for unobserved collection
schedule 5
contain small amount of narcotics, least likely to be abused (cough and anti-diarrheal medicine)
1. begin 2.verify donor ID 3. fill up DT forms 4. collect urine 5. seal specimen 6. complete CCF 7. ready for analysis 8. end
drug screening workflow
FDA
drug test kit is registered through this department
DOH
drug test kit validation is the responsibility of this department
1-2 weeks (surface contamination can cause *false positive*)
for collection of a sweat specimen, how long is the patient requested to wear a patch?
1 year from the date of issuance
for how long is a drug test result valid?
separate the serum then freeze
handling and storage of blood specimen for DT
stored at cool and dry place
handling and storage of hair specimen for DT
deep-frozen at least -8 to -10 degrees celsius
handling and storage of saliva specimen for DT
prolonged storage at -20 degrees celsius (stored initially between 2-6 degrees for not more than 1 day)
handling and storage of urine specimen for DT
schedule 2
highly addictive but medically important (cocaine, morphine)
schedule 1
illegal drugs, high potential for dependence and abuse (heroine, marijuana)
within the week
length of detection for urine specimen in drug tests
schedule 4
less likely to produce dependence, requires prescription (diazepam, phenobarbital)
immunoassay and chromatography
methods for screening in drug tests
1. observed (done in the presence of ASC) 2. unobserved (done in the absence of ASC; submitted samples; subject to validity tests)
methods of urine collection
5 ml
minimum required quantity of blood specimen for DT
100 mg
minimum required quantity of hair specimen for DT
2 ml (divided into 1.5 for the primary and the other 0.5 for the challenge)
minimum required quantity of saliva specimen for DT
60 ml in a single container. or 30 ml each of 2 separate containers for split specimen (for confirmatory and validity)
minimum required quantity of urine specimen for DT
marijuana cocaine amphetamine opiates PCP
most common drugs tested
applicants for: - driver's license - firearms license - permit to carry firearms - members of law enforcement agencies (police, military) - any person arrested for violations of RA 9165 - candidates for public office
people that are subject to mandatory drug testing
schedule 3
potential abuse, needs prescription to acquire (aspirin, codein)
task
purpose of the existence of the lab; produces goods and services as an output
Memorandum for the Record
record to document the recovery, corrective and remedial measures to administrative errors; accomplished by ASC
sedative
reduces anxiety and excitement (e.g. alcohol, barbiturates)
designer drug
related to but slightly different from controlled substances; designed by clandestine chemist to produce the high or euphoria
narcotic
relieves pain and induces sleep (e.g. codeine, heroine, morphine)
hair
specimen that is twice more sensitive than urine test; has longest detection and retention time of 1 year; expensive and tedious
saliva
specimen used for drug tests that has short detection time, no reference standards, and no confirmatory testing available
macerated and frozen
storage and handling of tissue specimen for DT
head analyst authorized specimen collector others (clerk, secretary, lab aide etc.)
the people in drug testing laboratories
chain of custody
tracking from point of specimen collection to its final desposition
urine - pre-employment, random, reasonable/suspicion/cause, mandatory saliva - same with urine blood, tissue, nails - reasonable suspicion/cause hair - pre-employment, random, return to duty, follow-up sweat - return to duty, follow-up
type of specimens and reason for test
single and split
types of specimen collection
custody and control forms
used to document security of the specimen, all steps of collection, person who handled the specimen; status and integrity and other pertinent info
NRL
validates the drug test kit
dilution, adulteration, substitution
ways of tampering urine specimen