Drug testing in the armed forces in all types of the wings (Army, Navy and Airforce) is a must for each and every personal as the military has a zero-tolerance policy for illegal drug use. The military services conduct several types of no-notice urinalysis drug testing. Positive results on most of these tests can be used for court-martial and discharge procedures.

Department of Defense, which is more popular as DoD is attacking the problem on the two fronts of supply and demand. Education and deterrence are the key aspects of reducing demand for illegal drugs in the defense forces.

Military Drug Tests:

To combat the rising health concern of drug abuse in the defense forces, DoD uses more sensitive tests to detect ecstasy during routine urine testing. Active duty service members must undergo a urine drug test annually. Reserve component members must be tested at least every two years. DoD labs test more than 60,000 urine samples each month, but it would be next to impossible for a mistaken positive result to affect a service member’s career.

The Drug Testing Procedure:

There are several protections built-in to the system to ensure accurate results. There is always a written record of who those individuals who access the sample. People who come in contact with each sample and what exactly they do to the sample are written on the document.

After arrival at the lab, samples undergo an initial immunoassay screening (using the Olympus AU-800 Automated Chemistry Analyzer). Those that test positive for the presence of drugs at this point undergo the same screen once again. Finally, those that come up positive during the second screening test are put through a much more specific gas chromatography/mass spectrometry test. This test can identify specific substances within the urine samples.

Even if a particular drug is detected, if the level is below a certain threshold, the test result is reported back to the commander as negative. DoD labs are equipped to test for marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, LSD, opiates (including morphine and heroin), barbiturates and PCP. But not all samples are tested for all of these drugs. Every sample gets tested for marijuana, cocaine and amphetamines, including ecstasy.

Tests for other drugs are done at random on different schedules for each lab. Some laboratories do test every sample for every drug. Commanders can request samples be tested for steroids. In this case, the samples are sent to the Olympic testing laboratory at the University of California at Los Angeles.

By: Rapiddrugdetection.com

Many people have to pass a urine test for employment. A urine drug test is a process where a person’s urine is analyzed to detect the presence of illegal drugs. As with a regular urinalysis, it is vital to collect a midstream urine sample. This means that the first stream of urine is discarded, and only the middle part is collected in a sterile container. One to two ounces is sufficient for the test. The first morning sample is most helpful for testing labs, but for someone who wants to pass a urine test you definitely want to avoid this.

1. Security Measures for Urine Drug Testing

To prevent switching samples with another person’s urine, some testing methods call for the subject to be observed while peeing. This is obviously against the civil liberties of an individual however. One way to balance the person’s right to privacy and the accuracy of the results of the test, some testing facilities require the subject to remove all personal belongings and wear a hospital gown. The collection is then done in a room where the subject does not have access to water that can be used to dilute the sample, which might help them pass a urine test.

Some individuals attempt to pass a urine test by drinking plentiful amounts of water. The testing facility, however, may counteract this by rejecting a sample due to its consequently clear color. In the event that such a sample is accepted, it is flagged and may be subjected to a specific gravity test. The normal specific gravity range of a urine sample is between 1.006 and 1.030 (higher numbers indicate higher concentration). A sample that is too dilute may be rejected; the dilution is noted in the report and sent back to the body that requested the test. As a general rule, the testing facility will not test a sample when the tamper-evident seal has been damaged.

2. Stages of Urine Drug Testing

As with a routine urinalysis, the urine drug test may contain two discrete stages: (1) physical examination, where the color, specific gravity, clarity and concentration are noted; and (2) chemical examination, that tests for the specific illegal drugs of interest. A third stage in urinalysis, however, the microscopic examination, that identifies cells, casts and other components such as mucous and bacteris.

Analysis methods include:

- High performance liquid chromatography – Immunoassay analysis – Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GCMS)

GCMS is usually viewed as a confirmation test, as in the case when the result is contested when it turns out to be positive. There are some cases when a result turns out to be a false positive, where other interfering factors such as certain types of foods and prescription medication should be taken into account.

3. Home Drug Tests

Another analysis method of the sample involves the on-site (or home) test, that usually consists of a chemical-laden card or dipstick that yields the result of the test in a very short period of time. Such devices can also be used to test saliva or sweat. As can be expected, these types of tests are prone to contamination and error. As such results from these are usually difficult to defend in a court of law, unless followed by an equivalent lab-based test. As with lab testing, an individual can also attempt to pass a urine test at home by using the dilution method.

Additionally, a full urine drug test (or routine urinalysis, for that matter) entail special apparatus and technical skills. These home kits only perform part of the full chemical tests, that may include urine glucose, urine pH, and urine ketones.

Drug testing in general has been a controversial subject ever since its introduction in the early twentieth century. Some have argued that it constitutes violations to a person’s privacy.

Justification of its use has mostly been in the workforce scenario, most notably in two situations: (1) pre-employment procedures, where the employer would want to minimize risk of hiring prospects with potential drug problems; and (2) post-accident drug testing, where certain circumstances may justify testing the employee involved to determine whether he or she was under the influence of the drug at the time of the accident. In the event of post-accident testing it is virtually impossible to pass a urine test, since it will be administered immediately at the job location.

By: John Morris

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At the present time, the federal government requires pre-employment drug tests and then random testing after being hired for all commercial truck drivers. The law specifically states that drivers with a commercial driver’s license (CDL) are subject to drug testing as are truck owner-operators with a CDL and motor carriers who employ drivers with a CDL.

A recent study by the Insurance Institute for Traffic Safety showed that 15% of all interstate truck drivers had marijuana in their system, 12% had stimulants (non-prescription), 5% had prescription stimulants, 2% had cocaine and less than 1% had alcohol in their system.

Alcohol

Regarding alcohol use, a driver does not have to be drunk to be impaired. Even very low blood alcohol content (BAC) levels impair driving performance by reducing the driver’s reaction time and slowing his decision-making process. At the current time, the federal government prohibits commercial truck drivers, railroad and mass transit workers, marine employees, and aircraft pilots from operating vehicles with a BAC at or greater than 0.04%. The number of accidents caused by intoxicated truck drivers has actually decreased in recent years. Statistics show that approximately only 1-3% of trucking accidents are caused by an impaired truck driver.

Marijuana

Many people have the false notion that driving after smoking marijuana is safer than driving after drinking. This is simply not true. Marijuana can affect concentration, perception and reaction time as long as 24 hours after it is smoked. That is much, much longer than alcohol affects a driver’s behavior.

Marijuana has been found to be a factor in over 12% of fatal trucking accidents. In recent years, out of the truckers tested randomly for drugs and alcohol, a whopping 45% showed marijuana in their system.

Methamphetamine

Due to the very long hours they often have to work, truck drivers are always looking for ways to stay awake and alert to meet deadlines. It has been reported that 17 out of every 20 truckers say it is very easy to find methamphetamine at truck stops along their route. Truckers have recently been succumbing more and more to the powerful drug due to the fact it can keep people awake for several hours and sometimes days at a time. Surveys and roadside tests have indicated that one in five truckers use stimulants on some of their trips.

Perhaps there is a need for more drug testing of our nation’s truck drivers. Though most truckers are tested randomly after their date of hire, many of them even say it is not often enough.

By: Lynn Fugaro

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