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Alcohol is not one of the drugs commonly included in an instant (dip or split cup) type test. The most common drugs tested for in a five-panel instant test (urine) are a combination of any 5 of the following: Meth-amphetamine, Amphetamine, Cocaine, Phencyclidine, Marijuana, Opium, Ecstasy, Benzpdiazepines, Tricyclic Antidepressants, Oxycodone... The Employer chooses what combination of drugs he/she wants to have tested. Instant devices come anywhere from 1-panel (for only one drug) or up to 10-panel. The cost is not much different, maybe $5-10 bucks higher for the 10-panel. I know the ways that will work to fool a drug tester and I know the ways you can get caught by a drug tester or a lab. I am a drug tester. You are right about the insurance industry dictating the need for testing. However; John Q Public is as much to blame as the insurance industry. With everyone suing everyone else over the slightest breeze of assumed liability and no one taking responsibility for their own mistakes, you can't really blame the employers for going over the top trying to eliminate any risk factor they can. Employers are only protecting their income source. Why should they risk their families' support system just so you can get high?

Back to the alcohol, that is generally given either as a saliva or breath test using a breathalyzer machine. There is no way to fake a breathalyzer. We "screen" you, by doing a breathalyzer test, then if you show 0.02 or above, we wait 15 minutes, not letting you drink or eat anything (or use nicotine products) and test you again. The 2nd test is the confirmation test and is used to ultimately determine the BAC.

If anyone wants to find out what drug testing is all about, the how's and why's, simply go to a testing site and ask. Why do all you people depend on hearsay and rumor? For anywhere from $15 - $50 you can be given a instant test for any combination of drugs in a testing environment. Most instant devices detect lower levels than a regulated test in a lab. (If you want to know what a regulated test is, just go to a testing site and ask).

By the way, I am not against pot use, I have friends in CA using medical and non-medical marijuana. I don't see them as any different as myself, (except I don't use) I just wouldn't trust them not to "Wake & Bake", then drive my kids school bus. It has been my experience that MOST, not all, but MOST users can't seem to stop at once or twice a week at home. Eventually the pot gets into the lunchbox for a quick noon-time relaxer. That is what the employers are afraid of as well.

Good luck to you all---- I know I got long winded, but I cant stand the mis-information everywhere!!!

IF you are job hunting, you arent smoking - Bottom line.

 

grillmeats

Thank You for your thoughts. We only worry about Pot here, the other drugs are off topic. We do like when people from your field leave professional input. The safest way to pass is not to smoke, but some of us enjoy the feeling. I also agree, don't work stoned.
GrillMeats.

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I use to like this site, but it out grew my interests. If you want to pass a test, Quit Smoking, I have!

Hawg

I agree do not work stoned then we have a legitamite bit*h about what you do on your own time is nobodys business. It is nice to have professional input so stick around and disspel some myths from time to time.

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Here is a good place to see who test's and how.
http://www.testclear.com/dtcompanies/searchcompany2.cfm



Figures don't lie but liars can figure

Tayler

Everything u said i agree with... but i've never wake and baked if i had to work and i don't smoke on the job... i'm a carpenter and care about keeping my fingers and other limbs more then getting high... i also respect my employer enough not to do something like that... besides weed for me is the most fun when the sun goes down... which is like 5pm during the 8 or so winter months...

grillmeats

From the Tester viewpoint

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Maybe detecting THC should not be the goal of employers. Maybe they should just use the THC test to detect and eliminate people who are so uneducated that they cannot read this site and follow simple directions. Apparently, just from reading a couple of hours, I have discovered that drinking loads of gatorade, taking aspirin and b2 vitamins, you can beat almost any urine test for THC. If you cannot figure that out, maybe you are undesirable for an employer.

Seriously, there are things we can and cannot do during a collection. Following 49CFR, Part 40 regulations, we cannot observe unless you give us cause (off color urine, cold sample, observe a substitution, see an adulterant, etc.). We also cannot frisk you prior to you taking a test. We can ask you to empty your pockets (cell phones, lighters, cigs, chew, keychains, etc..) and remove all outer clothing (coats, sweatshirts, coveralls, hats, etc). We will listen at the door for any unusual sounds, so cellophane or foil sounds are a no-no. We will look into or remove the garbage can so you cannot bury your evidence of tampering. We will ask your friends to stay outside the testing site (I don't know why you bring friends to a test anyway). We will ask that you turn off your phone (I don't have time to wait for you to finish your conversation, I am working here).

Please don't tell me that your sample is cold because you just finished a milkshake. Don't tell me that you were in the same room where someone else was smoking MJ. Don't tell me that blue/green urine color is normal for you. Ladies, we don't care that you are menstrating, that makes no difference in a urine test, if you tell us, we just note that on the form as a possible reason for urine discoloration (red or orange). When I tell you that you have screened positive for THC, if you have smoked ANY in the past 6 weeks, don't try to give me a SHOCKED look. You just end up looking really stupid to us. Just own up to it because I am probably going to send the sample into a lab for confirmation and that will cost the employer more $$ and really pizz him/her off. The only thing that accomplishes is getting you banned from EVER applying at that company again instead of the usual 1 year ban.

Most companies have a policy that if you admit use and seek the use of the Employer Assistance Program PRIOR to testing positive, they will not fire you. They will refer you to counseling or whatever the EAP provides for. IF your Employer catches you using or failing a drug test, usually they will fire you.

Remember, I will get paid whether you fail or pass. The collector really only wants to conduct the test according to protocol and get paid. Thats it. The Collector almost NEVER works for the same company as the Employer OR the Laboratory. The Collector is just the Collector, nothing more. We do not have any special credentials regarding drug use or the effects of different prescriptions.

If you don't give me a reason to look at you closer, I probably won't catch you substituting.

 

grillmeats

Here is the message that has just been posted:
***************
I cannot believe how lucky you are. We advise our clients (employers) not to let their applicants know what is involved in the "pre-employment process". After they employer selects a candidate for hire, we advise the employer to tell the candidate to come to our office to fill out the paperwork for the background investigation. - thats it.

When the applicant gets to our office, then we have him/her sign the authorizations for the background checks which, depending on the preferences of the employer, could include a Drivers license review, Criminal and sexual predator history (local, state and Federal), Social security trace, Previous employer interview, Written honesty test, etc... When they then get to our office, then I tell them they are expected to have a drug test (and sometimes an alcohol breathalyzer test). That way, there is no time for preparation. Also, they have no idea what type of drug test, hair, urine, saliva, etc.

Most people get no warning at all.

grillmeats

The instructions on an instant dip or cup type test state that if there is even a faint line, the screen should be considered NEGATIVE. The faintness of the line is in no way indicitive of a certain level of THC in the system. Even a very faint line is a negative. I have had tests where we can't even be sure if there is a line, it is so faint. We seal up an uncontaminated portion of the same sample and send it in to the lab for confirmation testing. When we have done that, it came back negative from the lab. If you are present (and you should be) when they read the instant test, if there is a very faint line and they want to call it positive, you should insist they get it verified at a lab. If they don't, they would be setting themselves up for a lawsuit. The instant devices are relatively accurate, but are not 100%. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
By the way, if there is no "control" line present on the device, this indicates that the device is faulty and the test should be retaken using another device. As I said in another thread, USUALLY the cutoff level at a lab is higher than the detectable level on a instant (at home) type of device. At any rate, after 60 days, you should test clean. The longest I have had a "donor" test dirty for after quitting is 42 days. Granted, most donors are not honest with me, but of those that are, that is my statistic.

On another subject, please don't try to tell us that you were at a party where they were smoking, but you didn't actually smoke. When people tell us that, we are obligated to pass this information on the the employer. Besides,
any DOT Certified Physician (Medical Review Officer (MRO)) will tell you that passive smoke won't test positive. Only ACTIVE smoking actually shows.
You don't need to tell the Collector or the Laboratory anything about your prescriptions or over the counter medicines you have taken. If something shows in your urine test, a DOCTOR will call you and discuss any medicines you may have taken. Collectors or Lab techs are not qualified to determine what caused a positive. We are only paid to collect the urine. We are paid whether you are pos. or neg. WE DON"T CARE whether you pass. We only follow procedure. We will, however, answer your questions accurately.

grillmeats

If you put an accurate phone number on the DOT Custody and Control Form (CCF), the MRO should have called you by now. You can call the MRO using the phone number on your copy of the CCF (usually a toll free #). They will ask for your SSN or CCF #. They will not report to the Employer that you called them. They only report to the employer (usually in a fax) a single page saying POSITIVE or NEGATIVE.

Specimens sent via DHL to a lab are always sent overnight. If a specimen stats negative, usually they have the results to the MRO with-in 4-8 hours. Then the MRO must review the CCF to insure the test was conducted according to the regs. If the lab detects a illegal substance, the specimen is held over for GS/MS testing. That can delay the results by 36-72 hours. Then the MRO still does his thing, and tries to contact you, not the employer, using the phone number you gave him.

If I were you, I would call the MRO. They have to talk to you before reporting to the employer. At least they have to try to contact you for up to 10 days before giving up and reporting to the employer that you are positive.

grillmeats

Look on the form they gave you when you took the test. If they sent the test to Quest, there had to be a Custody and Control Form (CCF). It's the 4 or 5 part form you signed, put your birthdate and phone number(s) on. The collector had to give you the "donors copy" of the form. There should be a Dr.'s name in the upper right hand corner. Call that guy. The Lab CANNOT give you results. (today is the 26th of Dec., and the MRO we use is closed until tomorrow, chances are that MRO is also closed as well.) Call tomorrow. Tell the MRO that you haven't heard from the employer and you wanted to know if there was a problem with the test. If it is positive or negative, you have nothing to lose by calling. The MRO isn't going to look at the test results any differently whether you call or not.

The Lab tech is not qualified to determine what caused a positive (prescriptions, over-the-counter meds, or illegal substances). IF the lab does give a result, it is because there is a DOCTOR working at the lab. That's the only one you talk to regarding a problem with the test.

Talking to the lab tech or even the urine collector about your drug test is like discussing a medical condition with the drug store check-out clerk.

grillmeats

We do get enough business anyway. The reason it is asked of employers not to advise of the type of drug test or give advanced warning is so you cannot prepare a substitution, adulterant or have time to dilute. That way, it is easier for the tester. Also, the employer knows that the applicant is using if you go ahead and give a specimen that is dirty. The applicant cannot claim later that he/she didn't show up for the test becuase he/she had another job offer, or had car trouble, babysitter trouble, illness, etc., etc., etc.

It doesn't do the employer any good if he/she pays for a test that you have found a way or had time to beat. That defeats the entire purpose of testing.