Are Rapid Drug Screens as accurate as laboratory testing?
The duration and accuracy, however, are the main differences between an instant test and a lab test altogether. Although the results of an instant or rapid drug test can be obtained immediately and within five minutes, they are not as precise as those of a lab-based test, in other words, Lab-based drug tests are more accurate than rapid drug screens and rapid testing gives much faster results.
Rapid Results
Because you receive your results immediately, at least for the negative results, rapid drug tests are often referred to as instant tests. Results of a rapid drug test are considered as negative or non-negative, not necessarily positive. This kind of testing initially determines whether any drugs have been detected, If not, the outcome is seen as negative. It is considered as a non-negative result if any drug metabolite is present. Results that are non-negative require additional testing at a lab, which can take an extra two to three days.
Rapid drug testing can be customized to your needs by removing out certain drugs such as THC, in states where marijuana is permitted and adding others, like nicotine for smoke-free workplaces. Rapid drug tests require for the collection of either urine or saliva, with urine delivering the more precise results of the two.
Due to its many advantages, instant drug testing is becoming more and more common for drug detection. It is not typically under supervision. It is typically utilized in workplaces for random testing, current employment, and pre-employment tests. Employees of the federal or local governments, as well as medical professionals, use rapid drug tests.
Rapid drug testing carries the risk of not detecting all substances in a class. A test administrator's level of expertise in interpreting the results will determine how subjective the results are. The varied, subjective characteristics of rapid tests lead to a false positive or false negative result for one of four samples for commonly abused substances. A false positive result indicates that a drug was found even though it wasn't there, and a false negative indicates that a drug was missed by the rapid screen despite being present in the urine sample.
Make sure you also research the laws in the area that you live because employment drug testing regulations differ from state to state. Also keep in mind that the Department of Transportation does not allow rapid urine testing and has other standards for drug testing.
PRECISION MOBILE TESTING Provides the following rapid Panels:
5 Panel Rapid (Amphetamines, Methamphetamines, Cocaine, Marijuana, opiates: codeine, morphine and heroine, and PCP.)
10 Panel Rapid (Amphetamines, Methamphetamines, Cocaine, Marijuana, opiates: codeine, morphine and heroine, PCP, methadone, benzodiazepine, Barbiturates & propoxyphene.)
Lab Based Drug Testing
Lab-based drug testing involves sending samples to a licensed laboratory for initial drug screening, more comprehensive confirmatory testing and the validity of the sample. The turnaround time for lab-based drug tests may take longer (2–3 days on average).
A greater range of methods are frequently used for lab-based drug testing, including urine, blood, hair follicles, saliva, and nails. Usually, only saliva or urine can be used as a sample for an instant drug test.
Regardless of the specimen being examined, lab-based testing provides noticeably more accurate results than the rapid drug testing. The more advanced equipment used in the lab produces reliable data that will stand up in any legal proceeding. Additionally, the labs follow-up lab verifications and MRO evaluations to check the validity of the results. To learn more about the role of a Medical Review Officer check our previous blog (Click Here)
The only type of drug testing that the federal government and many state government agencies recognize is lab-based testing. Additionally, the only technique approved by a court of law is lab-based drug testing.
Lab-based testing has the ability to identify hundreds of drugs, whether they are illegal or not, with precise and skilled screening administration. Lab-based drug testing can detect compounds that a rapid drug test could miss in addition to being able to identify a huge range of drugs.
The rapid drug test only looks for illicit drugs. Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry is frequently used as the next step in testing. False positives may result from the screening process. The industry standard is GC/MS testing.
Testing levels for lab tests are often significantly lower than those for rapid tests. For instance, rapid marijuana tests often range from 50ng to 20ng or 15ng.
Even lower levels can be tested in laboratories. The required testing level is determined by the lab and the party whose behalf the test is being performed. For instance, many employers and businesses set their testing threshold at 15ng despite the fact that the international standard is 50ng.
Everything depends on what is being tested for and at what level.
PRECISION MOBILE TESTING Provides the following rapid Panels:
(CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE PANELS)
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