Unisource performs thousands of substance abuse tests monthly for companies ranging from large to small scale companies. In many instances, accurate test results are immediate, depending on the method selected for testing.

The following services are offered by Unisource:

1. Urine Screening (Including Department of Transportation D.O.T Testing)
2. Hair Screening
3. Saliva Screening
4. Blood Screening (For Drugs Only)
5. DNA Paternity Screening
6. Employment Physicals

Note: You only need an appointment for Blood Tests and DNA Paternity Screenings. All other screenings are on a walk-in basis.

• Urine screening is the most common method of drug screening
• Strictly monitored to prevent contamination and switching of samples
• Reflects approximately one week of a specific drug use
• Some substances may be detected up to 30 days
• Alcohol is detectable for only 8-12 hours after consumption
• Recommended for post-accident testing, as well as reasonable suspicion screens for immediate drug use
• The method of choice for random workplace drug screening programs and is very effective in conjunction with hair analysis
• Unisource maintains a collection facility on-site at our office, or we can coordinate a collection facility near your site for your convenience.

Test Sure® specimen validity testing ensures the integrity of your urine drug test by identifying adulterants that may be added to hide drug use. All "invalid results" are tested twice automatically to ensure accuracy. Specimens suspected of containing certain prescription and non-prescription drugs that may interfere with analysis during the initial enzyme immunoassay screen are automatically tested again using an alternate methodology.

A dilute specimen has a high water content with lower than usual urine components. The most common cause is the donor drinking extra liquid before the collection, either because the donor is afraid he/she might have trouble urinating or because the donor hopes to dilute out a drug, so it doesn't show. Use of coffee or tea makes the urine even more dilute, because the caffeine causes the kidneys to put out more water (diuretic effect). Preparations sold to "clean" one's urine for a test basically works by increasing the donor's fluid intake and some diuretic effect.

The occurrence of a dilute specimen is indicated by a low creatinine or specific gravity. These are routinely measured by the laboratory that you use. Obviously, if the test is dilute and positive, it should be treated as a positive. If it is dilute and negative, then a decision must be made.

The obvious suspicion is that a dilute specimen was caused by a deliberate attempt to cover drug use, either by taking in extra fluids or by adding water to the specimen. Procedures at the collection sites have decreased the likelihood of adding water. These include, limited access to water, bluing the toilet water, elimination of bulky clothing, and checking the urine temperature.

One large national test checked urines for DOT drugs at lower cutoffs. This test did not find more positives in dilute specimens than in non-dilute ones that had tested negative at standard cutoffs.In our experience most dilute specimens are caused by the donor drinking too much fluid, often coffee, in order to be able to urinate. However, the percentage of positives in follow-up dilute urines is much higher then urines in general. Therefore, where feasible, we recommend that dilutes be repeated. For DOT urines, we recommend that DOT guidelines be followed. To do otherwise could cause legal problems.

Hair testing is a process in which hair specimens are analyzed for illegal drugs. When a drug is ingested, it enters the blood stream and is broken down to a specific metabolite. When a hair sample is screened, both the parent drug and the metabolite are isolated. Any samples that Screen positive are confirmed using GC/MS (Gas Chromotography/Mass Spectrometry) technology.

Since hair growth is fed by the bloodstream, the ingestion of drugs of abuse is revealed by analyzing a small sample of hair. Our testing method measures the drug molecules embedded inside the hair shaft, eliminating external chemicals.

In order for a sample to confirm positive at the established cut-off level the metabolite of the drug will only be present if the donor has physically ingested the drug(s) detected. Unisource Screening's certified laboratory uses cut-off levels that are within the current SAMHSA levels.

• Hair follicle screening can reveal drug usage over the course of 90 days
• Considered the most reliable method of drug testing
• About 120 strands of hair are cut as close to the donor's scalp as possible. The sample is sent to our laboratory where it is chemically cleaned to remove any contamination and then liquefied to test for specific substance content.
• This method of drug testing is nearly impossible to adulterate
• Due to reliability, this is the preferred method of the courts and the legal community. Hair coloring, hair spray, gel, mousse, or dyes does not affect the test in any way.

Cocaine (cocaine & benzoylecgonine), marijuana, opiates (codeine, morphine & heroin 6-monacteyl morphine), methamphetamine (meth/amphetamine & ecstasy) and phencyclidine (PCP). These five drug classes are mandated for testing by the Federal Government.

A standard screen covers a period of approximately 90 days. The hair sample is cut as close to the scalp as possible and the most recent 1.5 inches are tested.

Studies indicate that hair collected at the crown of the head grows on the average approximately 1.3 cm (1/2 inch) per month.

A standard screen with GC/MS confirmation requires 40+ milligrams or hair or approximately 90-120 strands. The thickness of different types or head hair (thick brown vs. thinning gray) is the basis of this variation.

The primary differences are:

1. A wider window of detection
2. The inability to tamper with the test

Cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates and PCP are rapidly excreted and usually undetectable in urine 72 hours after use. The detection period for hair is limited only by the length of the hair sample and is approximately 90 days for a standard screen.

At this time there are no known adulterants for hair tests. Since hair tests analyze the drugs inside the hair shaft, external contaminants/chemicals have no effect.

Additional advantages include non-intrusive collection procedures, virtual elimination of test evasion; greater accuracy through test repetition capability.

The combination of an increased window of detection and resistance to evasion makes Hair Testing far more effective than urinalysis in correctly identifying drug users.

It takes approximately 4-5 days from the time of drug use for the affected hair to grow above the scalp.

The minimum time period is approximately one month (1/2 inch). Body hair can be used if head hair is too short for a test. If body hair is used the time frame represented by the test is approximately one year because of the different growth pattern in hair below the neck.

Yes, Body hair may used as a substitute to head hair. The hair sample can be taken from anywhere else on the person's body (i.e. legs, arms, armpits, chest, back, etc.) if the person has very little or no head hair. Although head hair and body hair cannot be combined to get a sufficient sample, hair can be collected from several head locations and combined to obtain the required amount of hair. In the rare case where no hair is collectable, complete urine/adulteration testing my be utilized.

Yes, body hair can be used to test for the five standard drug classes, though body hair growth patterns are different than head hair. Most body hair is replaced within approximately one year. This means a test done with body hair will be reported as drug usage during approximately a one year time frame.

Unisource follows the cut-off levels generally accepted industry-wide. These levels are based in part by minimum detection levels for GC/MS confirmation.

Enzyme-immunoassay antibodies (EIA), similar to those used to test urine, are used for the initial screening test for drugs of abuse in hair; therefore the potential for substances such as over-the-counter medications to cause a false positive screening result does exist. To eliminate the possibility of reporting a false-positive due to cross-reactivity, Unisource Screening's certified lab confirms all positive results by GC/MS for methamphetamine, opiates, PCP, cocaine and marijuana.

To rule out the possibility of external contamination, Unisource Screening testing (where appropriate) looks for both parent & metabolite (bi-product) of drug usage. For marijuana analyses, Unisource detects only the metabolite (THC-COOH). This metabolite is only produced by the body and cannot be an environmental contaminant.

The hair not used from the time period being tested (i.e. three months equals 3.9 cm) is stored in the chain-of-custody sample acquisition pouch. Negative hair is stored for three months. Positive hair is stored for one year.

Hair color is determined by the amount of melanin in the hair. It has been shown experimentally, through actual hair samples, as well as determined in court that hair color has NO basis in fact.

• A simple swabbing of the inside of the mouth with a specially prepared swab will reveal approximately 48 hours of specific drug use
• This method does not allow for the stringent monitoring
• Primarily used for personal use, such as parent's suspicion of a dependent's drug usage

Also know as Oral fluid testing, Oral fluid collection devices, where a swab is used to collect a saliva sample, allow for specimen collection at any time or any place, helping to simplify the collection process while preserving the donor's dignity. Since the sample is collected under direct supervision, the chance for specimen adulteration is greatly reduced. It is simple and more sanitary.

Unlike on-site urine collection which requires employers to handle potentially hazardous bodily fluids, oral fluid collection is simple and sanitary. The donor places a collection device similar to a cotton swab into his or her mouth for about 3 minutes. The device is inserted into a vial included with the kit, and then sealed to prevent tampering. The specimen vial, along with the chain of custody form, is placed into a special shipment bag and delivered to the laboratory via overnight courier.

Unisource offers employment physical exams to help employers:

• Manage future risks and set a foundation for prevention procedures by identifying employees with conditions that predispose them to injury
• Help to determine proper placement of employees and reasonable accommodation of qualified applicants
• Reduce costs associated with Worker's Compensation, rehiring and retraining employees
• Limit future liability for work-related injuries and illness
• Prevent absenteeism due to injury or illness
• Establish employees' baseline health status and promote workplace safety