Laboratory Testing Standards

NIDA (National Institute of Drug Abuse) is the government agency responsible for regulation of the drug testing industry. All testing associated with the government and its employees is performed in accordance with NIDA standards. NIDA decides what the accurate cutoff levels are to detect the most minute traces of prohibited substances while still avoiding false positive results. Standards from NIDA are only used in NIDA certified laboratories. If a lab is not NIDA certified, it may have its own standards, or adopt those of the entity requesting the test.

All NIDA certified labs start by conducting an EMIT (Enzyme Multiplied Immunoassay Technique) screen and then confirm the results, if positive, using the more accurate and sensitive GC/MS (Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry) test. If your sample is "clean" according to the EMIT test, they will not test your sample further. If, however, your sample tests positive for any amount of illicit substances or shows any suspicious signs of tampering, your sample will be subject to GC/MS.

Only labs that perform the GC/MC at the same location as the initial EMIT can be NIDA certified. Again though, not all labs adhere to NIDA specifications. Some labs even fail to do a GC/MS confirmation, and worse, some use cheap alternative test methods to reduce expenses. In the work place, an EMIT is typically used, followed by a GC/MS if the EMIT is positive. However, this is not a rule. Some employers may surprise you with a GC/MS up front and others, such as the U.S. Government, use a different testing method known as RIA (Radio Immuno-Assay).

Anyone being tested under Department of Transportation guidelines can be tested only for THC, cocaine, PCP, opiates and amphetamines. This is known as a five panel test.

Private companies can test for anything, but the labs usually only test for the same substances as in the DOT regulations. Private companies can make almost any request they want, including having the donor wear a hospital gown, but this is rare.

Individuals in the criminal justice system will most likely be subject to an eight panel test, including the above mentioned drugs, plus barbiturates, benzodiazepenes and propoxyphenes.

Currently, 50 nanograms of THC metabolites per millimeter of urine defines a "presumptive positive" by NIDA certified labs. These cutoffs are not mandated for all testing facilities. The lab your sample is sent to may use a cutoff level of anywhere from 15Ng/ml to 100Ng/ml. The fact is, methodology, accuracy and cutoff levels vary from lab to lab. This makes it extremely difficult to take appropriate counter-measures. One thing is certain though: urine testing done properly is very accurate.

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