Drug Screening Information - Importance and Methods

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What is drug screening & how is it used?

Overall, screening is most frequently used in medicolegal situations. These include determining cause of death, detecting performance-enhancing drugs in athletes, and detecting drug abuse in the workplace, drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs or psychiatric patients.

What is an example of a drug screen?

Examples include suspicions of overdose (e.g. coma, seizures, acidosis), malingering or child abuse (e.g. unexplained hypoglycaemia or ataxia), or illicit drug abuse (e.g. psychosis, mood swings). Where possible, the drug screen should relate to the patient's clinical presentation.

How does urine drug screening work?

Urinary drug screening can detect substances including over-the-counter and prescription drugs. The focus of screening is often illicit drugs. Simple point-of-care tests, largely immunoassays, can rapidly detect a class of drugs or specific drugs in urine. More complex large scale laboratory screens and confirmatory tests can also be used.

What are the different types of drug screening tests?

Most commonly used drug screening tests involve immunoassay techniques. 1 These range from so-called bedside or point-of-care testing to more sophisticated laboratory-based immunological tests. Immunoassay can provide fast and reliable results, however the results must be interpreted with caution.

How do drug tests work?

The focus of screening is often illicit drugs. Simple point-of-care tests, largely immunoassays, can rapidly detect a class of drugs or specific drugs in urine. More complex large scale laboratory screens and confirmatory tests can also be used. Urine tests can often provide evidence of previous drug consumption.

What is a urine drug test?

Urine drug tests are commonly used in workplace drug testing. If you are asked to have a urine test, you will be asked to urinate (pee) into a container and your urine will be tested using a dipstick. Saliva testing is a quick, accurate and reliable method. This form of testing is used in random roadside drug testing.

What Is Drug Screening

1. https://www.sonichealthplus.com.au/services/drug-and-alcohol-screening
2. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326305
3. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/drug-testing/

Drug Screening Information

1. https://drugaware.com.au/get-the-facts/drug-testing/
2. https://www.austrahealth.com.au/drug-use-screening-tests.html
3. https://safeworkhealth.com.au/complete-guide-for-drug-and-alcohol-testing-in-the-workplace/