Detecting Synthetic Urine In The Lab
Believe it or not, there are people who try to beat the system by passing their drug screen using non-human, synthetic urine. Synthetic urine is something you can buy online or at most smoke shops. They come in either a liquid or powder form, and by following the directions on the package a person is able to give the solution the look and temperature of actual urine. Now this may be great way for someone to pass a drug test at most labs, but not at American Toxicology.
Here at ATI, we are trained to identify synthetic urines that come through our lab. After five years of analyzing synthetic urines daily, most can be spotted visually. Characteristics that are checked in order to distinguish between human and non-human/adulterated urine include: color, odor, and foam. A synthetic urine will also produce suppressed levels – meaning the amount of each drug the sample is tested for on the screening apparatus will be much lower than the amounts naturally found in human urine. If any of these factors is flagged as questionable, the sample is then tested for a number of variables associated with synthetic, dehydrated, and/or adulterated urine: Creatinine, Nitrite, Glutaraldehyde, pH Level, Specific Gravity, and Oxidants. An abnormal result for one or more of these items may indicate the sample was not produced by the donor’s body, but instead by a company or store.
Even though it may sound outrageous, about 3% of all urine samples ATI receives are synthetic, dehydrated, and/or adulterated. Some common brands of products used are: QuickFix, Agent X, and TestClear just to name a few.
Here at ATI, we are trained to identify synthetic urines that come through our lab. After five years of analyzing synthetic urines daily, most can be spotted visually. Characteristics that are checked in order to distinguish between human and non-human/adulterated urine include: color, odor, and foam. A synthetic urine will also produce suppressed levels – meaning the amount of each drug the sample is tested for on the screening apparatus will be much lower than the amounts naturally found in human urine. If any of these factors is flagged as questionable, the sample is then tested for a number of variables associated with synthetic, dehydrated, and/or adulterated urine: Creatinine, Nitrite, Glutaraldehyde, pH Level, Specific Gravity, and Oxidants. An abnormal result for one or more of these items may indicate the sample was not produced by the donor’s body, but instead by a company or store.
Even though it may sound outrageous, about 3% of all urine samples ATI receives are synthetic, dehydrated, and/or adulterated. Some common brands of products used are: QuickFix, Agent X, and TestClear just to name a few.
Trying to Cheat a Hair Test
When it comes to hair testing, American Toxicology tests the inside of hair, not just the outside. What this means is that you can take comfort in knowing that just about anything detected in a donor’s hair test was actually consumed by the donor, not just absorbed from outside environments.
This generally renders hair products – such as gels or strippers – ineffective. They may help to suppress levels, making someone who is borderline positive become negative, but it won`t remove drug activity from the hair completely or even at large amounts. Take into consideration that many of the products that claim to help you "pass a hair test" can actually damage your hair.
The best advice we can give to those who consider using any of these products is simply don't do drugs! You won't have to worry about whether or not your're going to get the job, or loose the job you have when your name is included in the next random drug testing selection.
This generally renders hair products – such as gels or strippers – ineffective. They may help to suppress levels, making someone who is borderline positive become negative, but it won`t remove drug activity from the hair completely or even at large amounts. Take into consideration that many of the products that claim to help you "pass a hair test" can actually damage your hair.
The best advice we can give to those who consider using any of these products is simply don't do drugs! You won't have to worry about whether or not your're going to get the job, or loose the job you have when your name is included in the next random drug testing selection.
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