Laboratory Drug Tests Confirmation
Laboratory Analysis For Drugs of Abuse and Blood Samples
Introducing Gas Chromatography / Mass Spectrometry (GCMS)
With regard to alcohol and drug screening, and specifically Workplace Drug Testing, Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GCMS) is the established laboratory method used to confirm "presumptive-positive" EMIT and Point-Of-Care (POC) drug test kit results by indicating precisely what chemical is present in a sample matrix. This is necessary because EMIT and POC screens cannot quantify the findings and can indicate whether something similar to what's being tested for was found.
GCMS is a two-step process, where GC separates the sample into its constituent parts and MS provides the exact molecular identification of the compounds. Compounds are separated by gas chromatography and then introduced into a mass spectrometer. As the sample constituents enter the MS, they are bombarded by electrons, which cause the compound to break up into molecular fragments (or parent ions). The resulting peak from these ions gives the molecular weight of the compound. The fragmentation pattern is reproducible and characteristic, and is considered the "molecular-fingerprint" of a specific compound. This information is sent to a computer, which records all the GCMS data produced, and converts the electrical impulses into visual and hard copy displays. These are used to compile the toxicological reports used as evidence in Workplace Drug Testing programmes, Employee Tribunals, Family Law and Criminal Law Courts. GCMS is considered to be the most definitive method for confirming the presence of a drug in the urine, saliva, and hair.
RESULTS
Initial laboratory EMIT screening results are usually available within 24 hours of receipt of the sample. Only if a sample shows a non-negative initial result would it be analysed using GCMS.
GCMS analysis is a time-consuming process due to the precise nature of operation. Results are normally made available between two and five working days from receipt of the sample; except with our Orascan system where results are known within 24 hours.
As a matter of course, all analytical results are reviewed by a qualified technician before being published.
Our results reporting service includes a Certificate Of Clearance and Analysis Report for all tests undertaken.
BRAND NEW! - 3rd Generation Oral Fluid Screening
We are proud to be able to offer Orascan, the most innovative oral fluid drug screen currently available. Orascan is clean, convenient and conclusive for all main drug groups.
Simply use the palatable, odorless mouthwash to rinse inside the mouth and let our ISO 17025 approved laboratory service provide you with a GCMS result the very next day.
- Click here to download the Orascan leaflet
- Click here to download the Alcohol and Drugs Testing leaflet
Contact Us
For drugs testing, alcohol testing, drug screening, alcohol hair testing, mobile phlebotomist, drugs training, or Drager recalibration in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Chester, Derby, Exeter, Hull, Ipswich, Leeds, Leicester, Lincoln, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Northampton, Nottingham, Norwich, Preston, Shrewsbury, Stafford, Swansea, Swindon, and York, please CONTACT US
