STATE BAR OF TEXAS ADVANCED FAMILY COURSE: 2015 AUGUST 3-6, 2015 SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

 Most common drug tests: i) Urine, ii) Hair, and iii) Nail.  Tests for parent drug and drug metabolites.  Levels found in the sample of the parent drug and metabolite are matched against cutoff levels pre-determined by the lab. 2

1 st Step: Immunoassay: This screening tests a wider spectrum of chemically similar substances than does the confirmation test. 2 nd Step: Confirmation Test: Performed by precise tests to identify and quantify drugs or their metabolites. 3

Methamphetamines Amphetamines (includes Ecstasy) Barbiturates Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium, Klonopin) Marijuana Cocaine Opiates (Morphine, Heroin, Codeine) PCP Propoxyphene (Darvocet) Methadone 4

 2 weeks prior to the time the hair sample was collected until approximately 90 days prior to the sample collection.  Multiple uses required to test positive with normal drug use. A one-time use of the average amount of drug will not yield results above the cutoff level. 6

 2 to 4 weeks following ingestion until 3 to 8 months (or possibly longer) following ingestion.  Broad range is based on numerous factors: longer fingers grow faster than short fingers, age and gender of the person, the time of year, the food the person eats, the dominant hand grows faster than the other hand, etc. 7

 Methamphetamines: -prescription diet pills -Parkinson disease medication  Amphetamines: -prescription diet pills -ADHD medication -Narcolepsy medication 8 *Methamphetamine will metabolize to amphetamines, but amphetamines will not metabolize to methamphetamine.

 Opiates: -Morphine and codeine may be prescribed. *Heroin quickly metabolizes to 6-AM & then to morphine in 8 to 24 hours.  Marijuana: - Legal for medicinal purposes in some states, but NOT in Texas. 9

1.Drinking an excessive amount of liquids to drive the creatinine level below 20 mg/dl. 2.Adding adulterants to destroy the chemical reactions which would otherwise occur. 3.Providing synthetic urine or another person’s urine. 10

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1.Order the donor to provide a witnessed collection. (Collector of the same gender actually observes the sample going into the collection cup). 2.Check temperature of urine specimen. (Average temperature of a non-witnessed urine sample returned to the collector is 95 to 97 degrees. 3.Give person a maximum of three-hours advance notice that he/she needs to drug test by urinalysis. 12

1.Some shampoos designed and sold with the intent to cleanse the hair of drugs. 2.Extensive bleaching, perming and dyeing may allow a portion of the drug within the hair to be extracted. 3.Shaving. 13

One product is on the market that purports to ensure an individual passes the fingernail test. It has not proven to be effective at this time. 14

 Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG) and Ethyl Sulfate (EtS) are direct metabolites of alcohol (ethanol).  Presence of EtG/EtS in urine is a definitive indicator that alcohol was consumed. 15

Urinalysis:  EtG can be detected in chronic drinkers for 80 hours or even up to 5 days.  A person that consumes 3 drinks can have a detectable level of EtG for approximately 20 to 24 hours.  Primary factors to determine the window of detection: volume of alcohol consumed; and time between each drink. 16

 3 month window of detection.  EtG nail testing is preferable to EtG Hair testing. -Studies have shown hair bleaching and pool chlorine eliminate/reduce levels of EtG in hair. 17

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