Drug Test – Follows Screening and Confirmatory Test

Determining if a person is under the influence ofnegative, then the result is declared to be
any drug is considered very important by thenegative, and if the result of the first test turns
Employers, Law Enforcement Officers, Sportsout to be positive, then the second test of
Officials and School Authorities just to make theconfirmation follows. This test is conducted using
surroundings healthy and to help people lead athe other part of the sample using a more
healthy life. Monitoring behavioral changes in ancomplicated and more costly technique known as
individual may or may not confirm the use ofgas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC
drugs. It may be other factors too. So DrugMS) or thin-layer chromatography (TLC). And if
testing helps to determine if such abnormalthis test too displays a positive result then the
behavior is due to intake of drugs or not.person undergoing the test is declared to be
Visible symptoms like a general lack of interest, aunder the influence of drugs. And on the other
fall in grades and abandonment from familyhand if this test shows negative, the previous
members if notice in youngsters then it can betest is deemed incorrect.
concluded that they are victims of drug abuse.The process of giving a drug test should be done
Mood swings to a feeling of low self-esteem alsowith care. Ensure that sample is sample is safe
says that the person is using drugs. Change infrom alteration. Clean containers must be used to
style of dressing or taste in music and repeatedcollect the sample. The sample must be checked
absenteeism from school and are also some ofimmediately for acidity and temperature. Besides
the visible symptoms of drug abuse. Behavioralthese care should be taken that the containers
changes that are found among the employeesshould be labeled in the presence of witness and
using drugs at a work place are clearly visiblefurthermore, the containers should be sealed
through a decrease in their productivity.properly to prevent alteration. Watch out that the
Drug testing procedure follows two-step process.test should not be performed by a layperson and
For instance say a urine sample is taken from thelook out that the samples should be tested by
individual and it is divided in two parts. One part oflicensed labs. All these factors are very important
the sample collected is tested for screening usingbecause the finally the results depends on all
immunoassay, which is a relatively simple,these factors. So take care of these factors to
inexpensive, yet highly accurate test. The secondget the accurate results.
step depends on the first step. If the first test is