Specimen validity testing refers to the tests conducted by laboratories to determine if a urine specimen is diluted, adulterated or substituted. Prior to urine drug testing, specimen validity test is conducted to know whether the specimen is tampered or not. To report a specimen as tampered, laboratories conduct an initial validity test and a confirmatory validity test. Oxidants, Creatinine, Specific Gravity and PH are few substances detected in specimen validity test.
Why to conduct specimen validity test?
Specimen validity test examines the validity of specimen i.e., up to how many hours the urine specimen can be used for any drug testing to get appropriate results and to detect any substance of abuse, which does not present in normal urine specimen. A specimen containing the minimum level of Creatinine and specific gravity values is identified as diluted.
Adulterants tested in specimen validity test
Adulteration means tampering urine specimen with an intention of beating the drug tests. Specimen validity test determines adulterants presence in the specimen, which are discussed below.
• Creatinine: This is a waste product of Creatine. A person may attempt to dissolve it by drinking excess of water. Low Creatinine level indicates that urine specimen is diluted.
• Nitrites: Nitrite is a chemical which doesn’t present in normal human urine. It is used to change the specimen composition. The specimen is adulterated, if it is found in the specimen validity test.
• Oxidants: Oxidants are used to destroy major Cannobinoid metabolite in urine specimen. Presence of oxidants in urine specimen indicates the adulteration of urine specimen.
Criteria for testing adulterants
The following criteria is established to test adulterants in specimen
• PH: PH test used to identify the presence of acidic or alkaline adulterants in urine. Normal PH ranges from 4.0 to 9.0. Level of this substance outside the range indicates that sample has been adulterated.
Specific Gravity: This test is used to know whether the sample is diluted or not. Normal range of Specific Gravity is from 1.003 to 1.030. Abnormal levels of Specific Gravity, indicates that the urine specimen is adulterated or diluted.
Specimen validity testing is the efficient way to examine the presence of any inconsistencies in the urine specimen. This test helps you in finding out the abusers who try to adulterate drug testing. Accurate results of any drug test are possible by conducting this test before the actual drug testing.
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