Laboratory Drug Test

Laboratory Drug Test Q & A

What is a laboratory drug test?

Laboratory drug tests are an advanced testing strategy for illicit drugs and other substances that alter your state of mind or behaviors. Compared to instant drug testing, laboratory drug testing produces more accurate results, even if those results take a bit longer to receive. Lab tests can also screen for many drugs at a time instead of just one. 

You might need one of these tests as a prerequisite for employment, to participate in a sports organization, or for legal purposes. Some employers also require random drug tests to show your continued abstinence from drugs that could impact your job performance. 

Chiefland Health Center offers laboratory drug tests with quick results that are easy to interpret. Negative results indicate that no drugs, even in trace amounts, were present in your system at the time of your test. Many drugs stay in your system long after you feel the effects wear off, so a positive test could indicate recent use or use from weeks or even months prior.

What can a laboratory drug test show?

A laboratory drug test can indicate recent use of various drugs, many of which are illegal. Some drugs are prescription only, while others are legal but can affect your performance at work or while participating in athletics. 

A few of the most common drugs that a laboratory drug test can screen for are:

• Marijuana
• Opioids (e.g. morphine, heroin)
• Methamphetamine
• Steroids
• Cocaine
• Barbiturates
• Phencyclidine (PCP)
  
  

Beyond sports organizations and employers, physicians can also recommend drug tests. Interpreting your drug test results can help them evaluate your health and see if you might have an unaddressed drug addiction. They might recommend a test if you display symptoms of drug use during an appointment, like slurred speech, dilated pupils, or delirium. 

What should I expect while getting a laboratory drug test?

Drug tests are usually urinalysis, or a test of your urine. When you come to Chiefland Health Center for a laboratory drug test, the team advises you to wash your hands and genital area before providing the sample. Using a sterile cup, you must catch some of your urine after beginning to urinate into a toilet.

Once you’ve filled the cup to a line indicating one or two ounces, you’ll return the sample to the team. You might be under their supervision the entire time or in private, depending on the circumstances of your test. 

Blood tests also work for laboratory drug tests. In these cases, the team draws a small blood sample from a vein in your arm in less than five minutes. For either type of test, the team analyzes the sample in a lab. 

To find out more about what to expect when you come in for your laboratory drug test or to schedule a test, call Chiefland Health Center or book an appointment online today.