Drug Testing Services in Coral Springs FL

A standard drug test is performed using a urine or blood sample from a candidate that is put through a two-step process to test for the presence of certain drugs. Depending on the business or industry that the request is being performed for, the sample will be put through a panel test outlining exactly how many drugs the sample is being screened for. The standard drug test is a 5-panel drug test that screens for the five most commonly abused substances – marijuana, cocaine, PCP, basic opiates, and amphetamines.

Some industries will have specific drugs that they want to test for or have a certain level of screening done. A drug test can screen for up to twenty-five different panels, where needed to ensure the safety of the employee, their coworkers, customers or clients, and the general public. While samples for drug testing can be obtained through several bodily fluids or tissues, urinalysis is the most common sample used as it is easily attainable.

Drug test needs will vary by workplace and the type of work being done. Some employers and companies will have their own unique drug tests, such as the Department of Transportation. If a company doesn’t have specific drugs that they need to test their employees for, they will often use a 5-panel or 10-panel drug test. The 5-panel test screens for the most commonly abused substances which are marijuana, cocaine, PCP, basic opiates including morphine, codeine and heroin, and amphetamines. A 10-panel test is used to screen for the same drugs as the 5-panel, plus benzodiazepines, barbiturates, methadone, propoxyphene, and methaqualone. Drug tests are most commonly performed on urine samples as they are easy to obtain and show the presence of drugs after the effects have worn off.

Drug tests can be performed to test for anywhere from five to twenty-five unique substances that can be used or abused with negative effects on the user. While it is called a drug test, it is used to test for any number of substances that can be used and abused to affect a person’s judgment and therefore their ability to perform their job. A basic 5-panel drug test will screen for the presence of marijuana, cocaine, PCP, amphetamines, and basic opiates, such as heroin, codeine, and morphine. From there, the list of drugs goes up and can include ecstasy, oxycodone, valium, barbiturates, MDMA, Demerol, and many others.

Nicotine and alcohol can also be included in specific drug tests that were required based on the tasks performed on the job. Each workplace or industry will set the standard for what drug testing they perform on their employees, as well as how frequently the testing is to be done. Testing is often done as a pre-requisite for employment and can also be done on a regular or random basis throughout the year as the employer feels necessary. The testing of marijuana, now that it is legal in some states, may or may not be tested for, depending on the employer’s stance on the uses it for recreational or medicinal purposes.

Drug test screenings are done in two steps-initial and confirmatory. After a urine sample is collected from the individual being screened, a portion of it is processed through the initial, or immunoassay, step. This first step is essentially an initial screening method of the sample. If the initial screen comes back as negative, then no further testing or action is required, and the individual is noted as being negative for the presence of drugs. However, if the sample comes back as non-negative on the initial test, a separate portion of the original sample is put through the confirmatory, or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), test.

This is a more specific test that is used to identify the individual substances or metabolites, as well as the amount of the substance, in the sample. Prior to noting an individual for having a positive drug test result, a confirmatory test should be done to rule out a false positive from the initial test.

If you have any questions or need drug testing services, then we encourage you to contact our team of healthcare professionals at Walking Urgent Care. We are open 7 days a week and we accept walk-ins. We are located at 10308 W Sample Rd, Coral Springs, FL 33065. We serve patients from Coral Springs FL, Margate FL, Tamarac FL, Coconut Creek FL, North Lauderdale FL, Parkland FL, and surrounding areas.