Drug testing in Occupational Health

Cor Aalbers

Commonly tested and abused drugst1/2

Cannabis (THC) 4-40 days Mandrax (methaqualone) 0 – 14 days Opiates (Heroine, Codeine, Morphine) < 12 hrs Cocaine (Crack) 2 – 3 days Amphetamines (Tic, Ecstacy) 2 days Barbiturates 0 – 14 days Benzodiazepines days - weeks Phencyclidine 12 hrs LSD 6 days Methadone 2 -4 days Alcohol Panel testing:

Drug testing, GGT/MCV,CDT and Glucose.

Cannabis

Coca plant Opium

Poppy plant

Crack

Cannabis plant

What can be expected from Pathcare?

SANAS accredited result generation according to ISO 17025 High quality test analysis A quote including:

competitive pricing. A customer specific Request Form. A code linking the employee to the customer, customer

requirements (type of specimen, time of collection, type of reporting, type of account etc).

Bar coded containers linking the patient to the required testing.

Rapid TAT A single account.

The Audit trailClient + RF + Container

Couriers to PathCare Park

Data captured + bar code

Line driven by bar code selecting bench and analyzer

Results down loaded to mainframe

Verification by senior technologist and pathologist(Grossly abnormal results phoned)

Site specific report generation: hard copy/fax/e-mail

Which types of tests do Pathcare offer?

Blood analyses: Alcohol; barbiturates; benzodiazepines, TCAD.

Urine analyses: Most drugs of abuse. Urine concentrates the drug over a longer period. Urine creatinine

All analyses are antigen-antibody reactions directed at specific epitopes on the drug giving drug specific results.

All results are linked to a control. Confirmation of most DOA by means of GC-MS available.

We do not offer dipstix testing.

Why lab testing and not dipstix?

Dipstix can be effective but are prone to mistakes.

Render quick resultsNot as sensitive.False positive reactions.Use the same basic principles.

Based on an antigen-antibody reaction

Very specific for the antigen(drug) and/or its metabolite.

The drug testing is either qualitative or semi-quantitative.

Thank you