Drug Testing Glossary

If you are looking for a comprehensive list of terms related to drug testing, look no further than this glossary. Drug testing can be complex, and understanding the terminology is crucial to ensuring accurate and reliable results. This glossary includes definitions for various terms such as primary specimen, adulterated specimen, alcohol confirmation test, chain of custody, initial drug screen, and more. Whether you are an employer implementing drug testing in your workplace or an individual taking a drug test, this glossary can be a helpful resource for understanding the language used in drug testing.

  1. Adulterated Specimen: A sample that has been tampered with to cheat a drug test.
  2. Accession Number: A unique code assigned to a sample for tracking and identifying it during testing.
  3. Alcohol Confirmation Test: A test to measure the amount of alcohol in a person’s system.
  4. Alcohol Screening Device: A tool for testing saliva or breath for alcohol.
  5. Alcohol Screening Test: A test to detect if someone has been drinking alcohol.
  6. Alcohol Testing Site: A place where people can get tested for alcohol.
  7. Blind Specimen: A sample used for quality control with its identity hidden.
  8. Breath Alcohol Concentration (BAC): Alcohol in a person’s breath.
  9. Chain of Custody: The record of a sample’s handling from collection to disposal.
  10. Collection Container: A container that holds urine, saliva, or body fluids for drug testing.
  11. Collection Site: A location where people provide samples for drug testing.
  12. Collector: The person who collects and handles the samples.
  13. Confirmation Test: A test that follows an initial test to confirm drug or metabolite presence.
  14. Confirmed Drug Test: A laboratory result that confirms drug use.
  15. Consortium/Third Party Administrator: A company that provides drug testing services to employers.
  16. Control Line: A line appearing in the test to indicate that it is valid.
  17. Creatinine: A substance detected in urine that helps determine if a sample has been diluted.
  18. Cutoff Level: The minimum amount of a drug metabolite required for a test result to be positive or negative.
  19. Designated Employer Representative: The person in charge of drug testing for an employer.
  20. Diluted Specimen: A sample that has been manipulated to reduce drug concentration.
  21. DOT Drug Test: A urine drug test required for specific jobs.
  22. Drug Metabolites: By-products of drug use detected in tests.
  23. Ecstasy (MDMA): A recreational drug derived from amphetamine.
  24. EtG: A direct ethanol metabolite detectable up to five days after alcohol consumption.
  25. ETS: A non-degradable biomarker tested alongside EtG.
  26. Evidential Breath Testing Device: A device approved for breath alcohol testing.
  27. GC/MS: A test to confirm drug presence in a sample.
  28. Immunoassay: An initial test used to detect drug presence and concentration.
  29. Initial Drug Screen: The first test in a drug screening process.
  30. Initial Validity Test: The first test to determine if a sample has been interfered with.
  31. Invalid Drug Test: A nullified test due to interference or other issues.
  32. LC/MS: A test used to confirm drug presence.
  33. LC/MS/MS: A confirmation test that combines mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography.
  34. Negative Dilute Result: A result indicating sample dilution without exceeding specific limits.
  35. Non-Negative Specimen: A sample indicating drug use or other issues.
  36. Normal Result: A laboratory outcome signifying a negative test.
  37. Opiate (OPI): A category encompassing illicit and prescription drugs derived from the opium plant.
  38. Paruresis: Known as a “shy bladder,” it describes individuals anxious about urinating with others nearby, posing challenges for urine drug tests.
  39. PCP (Phencyclidine): Also called “angel dust,” an anesthetic developed in the 1950s, later used as an illegal drug.
  40. Positive Test Result: A laboratory drug test confirmed by GC/MS, indicating drug or metabolite presence.
  41. Preliminary/Presumptive Positive Drug Test Result: The initial stage where a saliva or urine specimen tests positive, requiring further lab analysis.
  42. Primary Specimen: The sample initially checked by the lab for drug traces and used for validity testing.
  43. Specific Gravity: The urine-to-water density ratio used to detect sample dilution.