Comments on: Recent Chemical & Engineering News Article – “To Catch a Cheat” – Close but misses the Mark Relative to Drug Testing

By: Mike Grosh

Mike Grosh — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:42:35 +0000

The 20-30% error rate was published in a report from SAMHSA as a result of their internal testing and is quite correct. That does not mean that every instant test will be 30% incorrect, only that, taken on balance, instant tests have a potential for error at that level. The problem is, each test is performed on a unique, one time use only devise. There is no way of testing each devise for accuracy before use. On the other hand, lab procedure a repeated over an over. With regular calibration, the error rate is near zero. When confirmed by GCMS there if virtually no error rate.

By: pcholakis

pcholakis — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:29:42 +0000

Some on-site oral fluid screens, such as the OraPoint, detect Hydrocodone (Vicodin), as well as Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percoset). Prescription pain reliever abuse is a serious workplace safety threat.

By: pcholakis

pcholakis — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:27:44 +0000

Mike, your 20%-30% error rate for instant tests is incorrect, at least as far as oral fluid based tests.

Mary, you are correct in your assumption that prescription drugs represent a serious, if not epidemic level threat to workplace safety. Some oral fluid tests, such as the OraPoint, detect Hydrocodone (Vicodin), as well as Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percoset).

By: pcholakis

pcholakis — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:22:12 +0000

Actually, DOT urine-based testing will never report a Vicodin positive. Furthermore, at a 2,000 ng/ml cut-off, DOT urine-based testing will even provide an initial detection of a high percentage of Vicodin use / misuse.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:14:12 +0000

In response to Mary Johnson – lab based testing can and does pick up Vicodine and other synthetic opiate as a positive for opiates. Confirmation my GCMS will identify the specific synthetic. Instant tests often will not report positive under opiates, unless set broad enough in sensitivity to run the risk of picking up a lot of false positives for other substances. And even in those cases where an opiate positives occurs instants will not specify the specific drug unless confirmed by GCMS testing in the lab. That said, be careful of a policy of instant tests with GCMS confirmation of positives because the 20-30 % error rate in instant testing produces false negative as well as false positive results.

By: Mary Johnson

Mary Johnson — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:50:02 +0000

I would like a suggestion on catching employees using the synthetic opiates, like Vicodin, when doing Random testing. There is a lot of abuse with this drug………..using and selling, and it is not detected in the DOT 5 Panel tests. It certainly would make life easier for us that are trying to keep worksites Drug Free, in safety sensitive jobs. Thank you for you input.