The testing of Ecstasy and its chemical analogs will begin
As of 1st of May 2010, the testing of Ecstasy and its chemical analogs will begin. This will apply to all Federally Mandated Drug Testing, including all of DOT (Department of Transportation) and the Marine Employers regulated by U.S Coast Guard. Furthermore, SAMHSA announced the following changes to the DOT Drug Screen Panel, effective May 1st 2010 :
The specific changes to the drug testing panel are:
1. In the Amphetamines section
- Decrease the Amphetamines screening cutoff from 1000 ng/mL to 500 ng/mL;
- Decrease the confirmation cutoff of both amphetamine and methamphetamine from 500 ng/mL to 250 ng/mL;
- Add MDMA, MDA, and MDEA as specific target drugs for screening and confirmation testing.
2. In the 6-Monoacetylmorphine (heroin metabolite) section
- Addition of a specific screening test for the heroin metabolite at 10 ng/mL cutoff concentration.
This change requires a laboratory to confirm and report the heroin metabolite by itself, in contrast to the current Guidelines policy that requires the heroin metabolite to be tested and reported in conjunction with a positive morphine result. Recent data indicates that the heroin metabolite is present in specimens even when the morphine concentration is below 2000 ng/mL
3. In the Cocaine section
- Decrease the Cocaine metabolite screening cutoff from 300 ng/mL to 150 ng/mL;
- Decrease the Cocaine metabolite confirmation cutoff from 150 ng/mL to 100 ng/mL.
ELSSI is pleased to announce that, as of the 1st of May 2010, the testing of Ecstasy and all the above mentioned changes will be included in our Drug Screen Panel.
Source: Steve Stamatopoulos, ELSSI LTD, Director