AsseyMethod: Rapid test
Abbrevation: Methadone - drug abuse
Sector: Microbiology
SampleType: U
S.Vol: -
Transport: at 2-8˚c, -20˚c
Storage: 4 days at 2-8˚c Ur.:1 month at -20˚c
Test Name: Methadone - drug abuse
Normal Range: -
To detect or exclude the presence of commonly abused and/or illegal drugs. This may be carried out for a number of reasons including screening for pre-employment purposes or to comply with a drug rehabilitation programme.
- If you apply for a job where drug screens are carried out as a routine. People with drug and alcohol problems have worse records for accidents and absenteeism; for this reason some employers screen job applicants prior to appointment.
- If you have admitted having a drug problem and are enrolled in a detoxification or drug rehabilitation scheme where testing is part of the programme.
- If you believe you may have taken a drug accidentally or been given a drug without consent (e.g. drink spiking).
- If you are admitted to hospital in an emergency and doctors think that your treatment could be improved if drug abuse could be proved or excluded.
- If you take part in a sport at a professional level.
- If you apply for an insurance policy – some companies perform limited drug screening on applicants.
- For legal reasons (e.g. child custody cases).
A random urine sample is usually collected for detection of drugs of abuse although they can be detected in blood, sweat, saliva, mother's milk and hair samples.
Some prescription and over-the-counter drugs may give a positive screening result; prior to testing, indicate any medications that you have taken and/or for which you have prescriptions.
The presence of various classes of abused drugs can be detected. The analysis usually starts with a screening test where the drug group (e.g. opiates – heroin, morphine, codeine etc) is detected; positive results are then followed up by a more specific test which identifies the individual drug taken (e.g. morphine).
A drugs of abuse ‘screen’ usually covers the more commonly abused drug groups which are the opiates, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, cannabinoids, amphetamines (including Ecstasy) and cocaine. Drugs used in the treatment of opiate addiction (methadone and buprenorphine) and ‘legal highs’ are also often detected.
How is the sample collected for testing?
A random urine sample is usually collected for the detection of drugs of abuse although they can be detected in blood, sweat and saliva and hair samples can be used on rare occasions. If the outcome of the test may have legal implications you may be asked to provide a sample under supervised conditions and certify that it's your sample.
Is any test preparation needed to ensure the quality of the sample?
Certain prescription and over-the-counter drugs may give a positive screening result. Prior to testing, you should declare any medications that you have taken recently and/or for which you have prescriptions so that your results can be interpreted correctly.