Urine Testing

Alere analyzes specimens for substances of abuse in ways that will stand up to any legal challenge. State-of-the-art technology, automated computer systems, and a skilled laboratory staff ensure accurate analysis.

Our testing is a two-part process – screening and confirmation. Alere performs initial screening through immunoassay, a technique for analyzing and measuring drugs of abuse in urine. If the specimen initially tests positive, a confirmation test is performed before the laboratory reports the result. Alere confirms the presence of drugs using analytical methods that combine chromatographic separation with mass spectrometric identification. These types of methods include gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS or GC/MS/MS) and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS or LC/MS/MS). These confirmation tests can identify compounds by their retention times and molecular structure and are recognized by courts and scientists as the most definitive methods to verify a drug of abuse.

Methodology

Immunoassay Screening:
At Alere, screening will be performed by one of the following three methods:

  • CEDIA (Cloned Enzyme Donor Immuno Assay)
  • DRI EIA (Diagnostics Reagents Inc. Enzyme Immuno Assay)
  • KIMS (Kinetic Interaction of Microparticles in Solution)
  • EMIT (Enzyme Multiplied Immuno Assay)

Gas Chromatography / Mass Spectrometry Confirmation:
Alere uses Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) as one method of confirming presumptive positives from screening. Testing is done on mass detector instruments with a gas chromatogram. GC/MS is a combination of two separate methods used to confirm the presence of a suspect positive by immunoassay.

Liquid Chromatography / Mass Spectrometry Confirmation:
Alere also uses LC/MS/MS (liquid chromatograpy/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry) as a method to confirm presumptive positives from screening. Testing is done on a mass spectrometer with with a liquid chromatograph. LC/MS/MS is a combination of three separate methods used to confirm the presence of a suspect positive by immunoassay.

GC/MS and LC/MS/MS are two methods available to identify a drug and provide precise quantization. Once established identification criteria are met and the sample drug concentration is determined to be above the cut-off level, the presence of a drug is confirmed.

Drugs Tested

To perform testing, Alere has over 1,100 panels to suit any client’s need. If we do not have a test panel in our system that matches your requirements, we will create one. Alere can test for the following drugs/drug classes:

  • Amphetamines, including Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), and 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-ethylamphetamine (MDEA)
  • Barbiturates
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Cocaine Metabolite (Benzoylecgonine)
  • Marijuana Metabolite
  • Methadone
  • Opiates, including heroin, morphine, and codeine
  • Phencyclidine (PCP)
  • Propoxyphene
  • Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or Ecstasy)
  • Synthetic Opiates, including oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, meperidine, and tramadol
  • Ethanol Alcohol (urine or blood)
  • Ethylglucuronide (EtG)
  • Gamma hydroxy butyrate (GHB)
  • Ketamine
  • SOMA (carisoprodol)
  • Suboxone (buprenorphine)

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