موضوع اعتیاد بهقدری جدی است که آزمایش اعتیاد برای استخدام در نهادهای معتبر، شرکت در مسابقات ورزشی، ازدواج، مسائل قانونی و … اجباری است. این آزمایش بسته به فاکتورها (سهگانه، پنجگانه یا دهگانه) مصرف انواع مواد مخدر و روانگردان را در یک بازه زمانی مشخص شناسایی میکند. نمونه تست اعتیاد را از خون، ادرار، مو، بزاق و عرق یا هوای بازدم آزمایشدهنده برمیدارند و بازه زمانی تشخیص بسته به نوع نمونه متغیر خواهد بود. در این راهنمای دکتردکتر، نگاهی دقیق به آزمایش اعتیاد و روشهای انجامش میاندازیم، از کاربردهای این تست میگوییم و به هزینه تقریبی آن اشاره میکنیم.
What is addiction testing and why is it done?
Addiction testing is a diagnostic test to identify drugs in urine, blood, saliva, hair or exhaled air samples. The greater the number of parameters of this test, the more extensive the results will be.
Triple Addiction Test As the simplest type of addiction test, it is done for employment in small centers or for initial examination before marriage, and it detects these 3 factors:
- Opium and morphine, including traditional opioids such as syrup, opium, heroin;
- Methadone for testing Abuse of the addiction treatment drug methadone;
- Amphetamines to identify methamphetamine (glass) and similar stimulant drugs.
Five addiction test is the most widely used type of test in hiring offices, companies, conscription, marriage and certification. This test is more accurate than the triple test and also checks stimulants and psychoactive substances. Drugs that can be detected in this test are:
- Opium and morphine and the use of traditional opioids;
- Methadone;
- Amphetamines and methamphetamine;
- Hashish (marijuana, THC);
- Cocaine;
The ten test of addiction is the most complete. And it is the most specialized type of drug test and is requested in legal cases by forensic medicine, big companies or for military tests. The substances examined in this test are:
- opium and morphine;
- methadone;
- amphetamine or methamphetamine (glass);
- cannabis (THC);
- cocaine;
- tramadol (opioid pain reliever);
- benzodiazepines (sedative drugs such as Diazepam and alprazolam);
- Barbiturates (old sleeping pills);
- MDMA ecstasy (psychoactive stimulant);
- PCP or phencyclidine (hallucinogenic and dangerous substance).
Different methods of addiction testing
Addiction testing can be done in several ways: blood, urine, hair, saliva, sweat and breathing tests.
1. Blood test for addiction diagnosis
Blood test is a common way to get a sample for addiction test. The blood addiction test sample is obtained by venous sampling. By taking a vein sample from the arm, the technician pours some of the tester's blood into special tubes and delivers it to the laboratory. The whole process takes less than 5 minutes and the test result will be ready within a few hours.
Read more: narcotic painkillers
2. Urine test for addiction test
Urine is the most common sample used for this test and the fastest way to detect drug or stimulant use. Compared to other types of drug tests, the urine addiction test has a shorter detection period and detects drug use in the last 5 to 10 days.
3. Hair test to detect addiction
The drug and its metabolites are stored in the hair shaft after consumption and can be identified up to 3 months later! For this reason, the addiction test with hair test has a long detection interval and detects drug use up to 3 months before the date of the test. In this test, the technician plucks a few strands of the tester's hair near the scalp and announces the result within 5 to 7 working days.
4. Examining saliva and sweat for addiction testing
The next method to check the effects of drugs is a quick and simple examination of saliva and sweat to detect stimulants in body secretions. This completely non-invasive test has a detection interval between 7 and 21 hours and is mostly used for road, police or urgent employment tests.
5. Breath test to detect addiction
This quick and new test is performed with a breath analyzer (something similar to a breathalyzer) and shows the concentration of narcotics in exhaled air. The detection period of this test is very short and limited to the last few hours.
What are the applications of addiction testing?
Addiction testing has wide applications in medical, social and legal fields. In this section, we mention its most important uses.
Addiction test before organ transplant
Addiction test is one of the mandatory and vital stages of evaluating patients before organ transplant. The purpose of this test is to ensure the physical and mental health of the recipient or donor and the high probability of transplant success.
Addiction test for employment
One of the main conditions of organizations, government institutions and private companies is to provide the results of non-addiction test for employment. The employer refers to these results to evaluate the mental and physical health of the applicant and his productivity in the workplace.
Legal and medical tests Legal
Legal and forensic drug addiction tests are performed to diagnose drug abuse in legal, criminal, or judicial situations. These tests play an important role in proving or disproving accusations and judicial decisions. One of the important uses of addiction testing in forensic medicine is for criminal investigations or motor vehicle accidents.
Addiction testing before marriage
In Iran, marriage addiction testing is one of the required steps in the official marriage process and its purpose is to ensure the health of the couple and prevent family and social harm. Drug addiction testing is mandatory for men and is only done for women in special circumstances.
Addiction testing for athletes
Professional athletes who take muscle building drugs, take an addiction test before participating in important competitions. This test is done to maintain the health and transparency of competitions, and the purpose of doing it is to ensure that the athlete is free from prohibited and addictive substances.
Interpreting and reading the answer of addiction test
A positive addiction test means the presence of one or more narcotic drugs in the body. In such cases, the test person must go through a confirmation test to make sure that the results of the first test are correct and not a false positive.
If the drug test result is negative, it means that no drug is present in the body of the test taker, or if there is, the amount is negligible.
With the on-site testing services of Dr.Dektor Medical System, you can take a variety of general and specialized tests at your desired location and interpret them over the phone, in the language of specialist doctors. Listen.
Drugs detectable in the test
Addiction testing looks for the following substances in the tester's blood:
- Alcohol;
- Amphetamines such as methamphetamine and ecstasy (MDMA);
- Barbiturates such as phenobarbital and secobarbital;
- benzodiazepines such as alprazolam or clonazepam;
- cocaine;
- marijuana (cannabis, THC)
- opioids and opioids, such as heroin, codeine, oxycodone, morphine, hydrocodone and fentanyl;
- phencyclidine (PCP);
- Anabolic steroids.
Duration of declaring the result of the non-addiction test
The period of declaring the result of the non-addiction test varies depending on the type of test and is usually prepared within a few hours to 1 day. Of course, if you need a confirmatory test or blood, it is possible that the final answer will be ready within 48 hours. The laboratory will inform you when the results will be delivered.
Images and sample results of the addiction test
You can see sample images of the non-addiction test results below.
Example of a positive addiction test
Sample of negative addiction test
The cost of conducting an addiction test
Addiction testing in Iran depends on the type of testing, the number of parameters and the selected laboratory. Naturally, the cost you pay for a ten-fold test is higher than a five-fold test, and the price of a five-fold test is higher than a triple-fold test. In 1404, the rate approved by the Ministry of Health and Treatment for the ten-fold test is equal to 416 thousand Tomans. Of course, other tests with fewer parameters will be cheaper.
Is it possible to perform an addiction test at home?
Yes, a home addiction test can be performed at home with personal sampling and is mostly used for initial investigation and monitoring the process of addiction withdrawal. Of course, if you are doing this test for government institutions and legal and regulatory centers, it is better to take samples in a laboratory environment.
Home addiction test kits are only valid for personal examination and within 5 to 10 minutes, they detect the effects of amphetamine, methamphetamine, opium, marijuana, methadone, benzodiazepine and cocaine with 90% accuracy. The results of these tests are inconclusive and the probability of false positives or negatives is high.
Official addiction testing (for employment, certification, court, etc.) cannot be done at home and must be done in an accredited laboratory under the supervision of an official supervisor, because it requires authentication and signature of the tester. Sampling at home for these cases is not legally acceptable.
Read more:What is alcohol addiction or alcoholism?
Important points before and after the drug addiction test
It does not require special introduction and preparation. Only inform the laboratory specialist of prescription drugs and stop consuming alcohol, cigarettes and energy drinks 24 hours before the test. If you are leaving certain substances or drugs, inform the doctor or the laboratory manager about this.
Is fasting necessary for addiction testing? be?
There is no need to fast to test for addiction; Because eating and drinking (water, food, tea, etc.) does not change the test result. The tester is allowed to do this test at all hours of the day; However, it is better to collect the urine sample first thing in the morning, because it is more concentrated and this concentration increases the accuracy of the test. Just limit fluid intake before the test so that excessive dilution of urine fluid is not suspicious for the laboratory.
What kind of drugs can change the test result?
A group of drugs and substances that influence the result of the addiction test and cause false positive and negative results. In the table below, we have listed these drugs separately. data-align="center">Drugs that cause false positives
Doctor Doctor's last words
Addiction is not an unpleasant behavior or habit, it is silent pain that destroys the nervous system, physical and mental health, and the relationships of the person suffering from it. Late diagnosis of this condition will be associated with serious threats such as liver and heart diseases, mental disorders, occupational or legal problems. In such a situation, timely action to get the appointment of an addiction doctor can be the first and most important step to return to a healthy life. Addiction test is a reliable test to identify the use of drugs and psychotropic substances. With accurate and correct results, this test plays a vital role in timely diagnosis, prevention of complications and guiding the treatment path. Do not see this test as a punitive measure, but as a preventive step in the path of self-care.
By requesting the service of testing at the doctor's place, take samples of this test and other health tests at home or a place of your choice and hear the interpretation of the results over the phone, from the best doctors in the country.
