Covid and Drug Testing

We all know that Covid-19 turned all of our lives upside down. From the entire country shutting down, losing jobs, not being able to see loved ones, and having to deal with the effects of a virus that has horrible symptoms. 

Covid-19 Increased the levels of Substance Abuse in our Loved Ones

One of the unpleasant side effects of the Covid pandemic is an increase in substance abuse in the country.  Covid, both the virus itself and the unanticipated effects from the containment strategy, drastically increased everyone’s stress levels.  Some people lost their jobs, others lost their entire business.  Families found themselves spending ALL their time together.  Parents have to manage to have their children home all day while they are also trying to work from home.  Not having enough computers for everyone to do their work.  The internet is down!!  Problems that existed before the pandemic, seem amplified in the restricted environment.  

The Effects of Extra Stress

People need relief from all that stress!  What’s a person to do when you normally go to the gym to work off the stress, but the gym is closed?!  Getting together with your friends to vent about the spouse and kids, going out to a movie, or just going out anywhere is no longer an outlet.  Many healthy methods of dealing with stress were not available during the pandemic due to restrictions and business closures.  Sadly, some people could not find healthy coping strategies and many turned to drugs and alcohol.  For others, that was already their coping mechanism.  The Centers for Disease Control reported a 13.3% increase in people who chose substance use for their Covid coping strategy.  

Then there are the people who were struggling to overcome their substance abuse through treatment.  Many had their treatment program interrupted because restrictions closed the recovery facility.  Sadly, this contributed to an increase in overdose deaths (18% nationwide).  When a person who has been recovering from substance abuse hasn’t been used in a while, their bodies are no longer used to the effects.  Their tolerance is significantly decreased, but they resume at the old usage level.  It is too much for their body to process and ends in an overdose death.  

Other Effects of Substance Abuse

Then there are the innocent victims of substance abuse.  The babies born into the world are already dependent on the mom’s substance of choice.  The increase in addicted baby births was already alarmingly on the rise prior to the pandemic.  Although no official numbers are available yet, hospital and health care workers have noticed a further increase since the onset of the pandemic.

When Knowing Matters

Covid restrictions are lifting and life is getting back to “normal”. This is the time when knowing matters the most.  We need to keep our loved ones safe from themselves and get them the help they need immediately.  If you suspect anything, you should have that difficult conversation, get them tested, and get them into the appropriate program to support their needs.

If you are a business owner, hopefully, things are looking up for you.  Business is ramping back up and you are ready to add more employees.  If a drug screening is not already part of your hiring process, you may want to consider adding it to protect your investment.  Detecting substance abuse before you hire an employee will save you money and time. 

Are you worried a family member you are responsible for may be struggling with a substance abuse issue?  We can set your mind at ease and answer that nagging question. Give us a call or fill out a lab test request form.

Nicotine – Cotinine

Nicotine – Cotinine

Nicotine, or its primary metabolite cotinine, is most often tested to evaluate tobacco use. Long-term smoking of tobacco products can increase the risk of developing many diseases including lung cancer, COPD, stroke, heart disease, and respiratory infections. Long-term tobacco use can also exacerbate asthma and help promote blood clot formation. In pregnant women, smoking can impair growth of the developing baby and lead to low birth weight babies.

In the blood, the nicotine level can rise within a few seconds of a puff on a cigarette. How much it rises depends on the amount of nicotine in the cigarette and the manner in which a person smokes, such as how deeply he or she inhales. The rate at which nicotine is metabolized and cotinine is cleared from the body also varies from person to person due to some genetic differences.

Call (417) 881-2522 to schedule a Nicotine – Cotinine Test in Springfield MO today!

Heavy Metals

Heavy Metals

Heavy metals testing is used to screen for or to diagnose heavy metal poisoning in those who may have been acutely or chronically exposed to one or more heavy metals and to monitor excessive metal concentrations in those who work with various heavy metals. Such occupations include construction work, mining, radiator repair shops, and firing ranges. Testing is also conducted to monitor the effectiveness of chelation therapy, a treatment to rid the body of high amounts of a heavy metal.

Care must be taken in the interpretation of heavy metals tests. A low level of a heavy metal in the blood does not necessarily mean that excessive exposure has not occurred. Heavy metals do not stay in the blood and will not be present in the urine for extended periods of time. Lead, for instance, migrates from the blood into the body’s organs and over time is incorporated into the bones. If someone was chronically exposed to lead, then that person might have lead in his or her blood, urine, organs, and bones.

Call (417) 881-2522 to schedule a Heavy Metals Test in Springfield MO today!

Oral Fluid (Saliva) Drug 

Oral Fluid (Saliva) Drug 

This non-invasive drug test uses saliva as the testing specimen. It provides detection for recent use of Amphetamines/Methamphetamines, Cocaine, Opiates, Phencyclidine, and Marijuana.

Oral fluid drug testing uses an oral fluid swab collection method. The donor can collect his or her own sample onsite in the presence of a disinterested third-party collector, making this test non-invasive and always under direct observation.

Negative results are available the same day. Non-negative results are confirmed utilizing or gas chromatography (GC)/mass spectrometry (MS).

Call (417) 881-2522 to schedule an Oral Fluid (Saliva) Drug Test in Springfield MO today!

Urine Drug

Urine Drug

A Urine Drug Test will determine the presence or absence of drugs in a urine sample collected at the time of the test.

The 5-Panel Urine Drug Test provides quantifiable results across a 1 to 4-day standard testing time frame for all but Marijuana, which has a 1 to 28-day detection period. This tests the presence of the following drug metabolites:

  • Amphetamines/Methamphetamines – 1,000 ng/mg+
  • Cocaine – 300 ng/mL+
  • Opiates – 2,000 ng/mg+
  • Phencyclidine – 25 ng/mg+
  • Marijuana (THC) – 50 ng/mg+

The 10-Panel Hair Follicle Drug Test provides quantifiable results across a 1 to 4-day standard testing time frame for all but Marijuana, which has a 1 to 28-day detection period. This tests the presence of the following drug metabolites:

  • Amphetamines/Methamphetamines – 1,000 ng/mg+
  • Barbiturate – 300 ng/mL+
  • Benzodiazepine – 300 ng/mL+
  • Cocaine – 300 ng/mL+
  • Marijuana (THC) – 50 ng/mg+
  • Methadone – 300 ng/mL+
  • Opiates – 2,000 ng/mg+
  • Phencyclidine – 25 ng/mg+
  • Propoxyphene – 300 ng/mL+

The following can be added to any laboratory:

  • Ecstasy
  • Synthetic Opiate
  • Demerol
  • Tramadol
  • K2
  • Bath Salts
  • Cotinine
  • SOMA ETG Urine Alcohol
  • Steroids Panel
  • Buprenorphine
  • Tricyclic Antidepressants
  • Ketamine

Specimens are sent to the laboratory nightly. After a sample reaches the lab, next day results are available if negative. If non-negative, results will take 3 to 5 business days.

If you would like faster results, please consider our Rapid Urine Drug testing.

Call (417) 881-2522 to schedule a Urine Drug Test in Springfield MO today!

Hair Follicle Drug

Hair Follicle Drug

A Hair Follicle Drug Test will determine the presence or absence of drugs in a hair sample by taking a small sample of hair from several inconspicuous spots on the head.

The 5-Panel Hair Follicle Drug Test provides quantifiable results across a 7 to 90-day standard testing time frame for the presence of the following drug metabolites:

  • Amphetamines/Methamphetamines – 300 pg/mg+
  • Cocaine – 300 pg/mL+
  • Opiates – 500pg/mg+
  • Phencyclidine – 300 pg/mg+
  • Marijuana (THC) – 1pg/mg+

The 9-Panel Hair Follicle Drug Test provides quantifiable results across a 7 to 90-day standard testing time frame for the presence of the following drug metabolites:

  • Amphetamines/Methamphetamines – 300 pg/mg+
  • Cocaine – 300 pg/mL+
  • Opiates – 500pg/mg+
  • Phencyclidine – 300 pg/mg+
  • Marijuana (THC) – 1pg/mg+
  • Ecstasy
  • Oxycodone
  • Oxymorphone
  • Hydromorphone

Specimens are sent to the laboratory nightly. After a sample reaches the lab, next day results are available if negative. If non-negative, results will take 3 to 5 business days.

The following can be added to any laboratory:

  • Ecstasy
  • Synthetic Opiate
  • Demerol
  • Tramadol
  • K2
  • Bath Salts
  • Cotinine
  • SOMA ETG Urine Alcohol
  • Steroids Panel
  • Buprenorphine
  • Tricyclic Antidepressants
  • Ketamine

Call (417) 881-2522 to schedule a Hair Follicle Drug Test in Springfield MO today.