Myths Regarding Drug Testing

Remember Marion Jones; the famous female athlete who was stripped of all her records and her 5 Olympic medals dating till the year 2000 after she was found guilty of lying to the court regarding substance abuse? This is a typical real life case of substance or drug abuse which can later wreak havoc in your life. Upon drug testing to find the truth, such high profile people end up being under public scrutiny and are disgraced. Despite advancement in technical as well as medical testing methodologies, people, especially athletes, continue to take drugs or 'performance enhancers' as they prefer to call them. There are quite a few myths going around which many of us feel will save us during testing for substance abuse, but they do not seem to actually work at all. Nevertheless, here are a few common myths and misconceptions about drug testing:

Vinegar will help you pass:
This can be stated as partially true. Due to the intake of vinegar, the pH of your urine or your blood will lower considerably. Due to the concept of protonation, the drugs belonging to the family of '–amine' groups will be more soluble than before and will be more easily flushed out of the system. This method might sound good, but it still cannot guarantee safety from failing the drug test. Vinegar will also make your urine smell strange, which drug test collectors are trained to notice.

Consuming Poppy Seeds will come up positive for opium/opiates:
Contrary to the popular notion, it would require somewhere around 4-5 bagels with poppy seeds to test positive for opiates during drug testing. This also varies a lot on where the seeds come from; different countries produce different potencies of poppy seeds. However, other food items such a poppy seed laced pastry can sometimes spell trouble if consumed in large quantities. The popular belief is that only opium addicts would test positive for opiates during testing; but sometimes, people who are innocent get in trouble due to their careless food habits.

Second hand exposure to Marijuana will make you come back positive:
Many times, people profess complete ignorance about the use of substance abuse such as marijuana, cocaine, etc. However, when they are found to be guilty on these counts, they begin trying to explain themselves, telling stories of being in parties where marijuana or cocaine was used. It is a myth that second-hand cocaine smoke can produce a positive result. This is technically not possible. To make this scenario true, one would have to sit in an un-ventilated area for hours and be continuously exposed to the second-hand cocaine smoke.

However, hair testing can spell doom as the minute particles suspended in the air can be deposited on your hair too.

Vitamin B3 or B6 will help you pass the test:
There are also myths regarding ingesting Niacin/Vitamin B3 or Vitamin B6 or any B vitamin complex. The thought behind this is that these vitamins replace essential nutrients lost when using drugs and also help to give very diluted urine a more yellow and normal color during drug testing. But these claims are not true. In fact, too much Niacin consumption can be dangerous and have adverse side effects as well. Many people are still of the opinion that drinking your own urine will help you dodge the doping officials and/or the drug testing team. There are many websites that claim these reports to be true, but to date, there is no legitimate scientific evidence proving this to be true.

'Performance enhancers' or drugs sometimes seem to work well on the field, but is an unethical means of gaining supremacy over others in the arena. During drug testing, the samples of your urine, hair, blood, sweat and/or saliva are taken and then mixed with different chemicals to show the presence or absence of drugs of any sort. Of course, there have been times when even the coaches have been accused of giving drugs to their players under the guise of 'medicine'. This practice is not advocated and can mean big trouble for both the coach and the player, even the ones who were unaware of drug use. To sum it all up, the players should always build up their own strength and endurance of the body and not rely on performance enhancers in any way to showcase their talent. Recreational drug users may not gain any performance enhancement form drug use, but their drug abuse is just as dangerous and serious.


(Drug Testing)

STD Testing: Stay safe

STD is an abbreviation of sexually transmitted diseases, which are the most chronic diseases in today’s society. There are several research studies that have been conducted to accumulate the data that shows most people (1 in 5) will contract an STD- some of which can be deadly diseases. Therefore, the least we can do for ourselves is stay safe from these diseases by having as much information as we can to make informed decisions about sexual activities. The first step is securing your life and safety, as well as that of your partner, by doing STD testing. It’s completely natural to be scared or nervous about such testing, however, delaying or ignoring it is detrimental to your health. There are multiple reasons that compel people to refrain from this testing, but no amount of embarrassment or anxiety is worth your life. All sexual active people need to have STD testing.

What is an STD?
An STD is a sexually transmitted disease that can afflict people who indulge in unprotected sexual relationships; they can be transmitted by vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse, or oral sex. Because you sometimes have no way of knowing if someone is infected, doing regular STD checks is imperative to overall health and well-being. Early intervention can save your life!

Delaying or postponing STD testing/Testing Misconceptions:
There are many reasons people choose to ignore the thought of STDs, and some people are simply in denial. Some reasons people tend to delay testing (sometimes with negative consequences) are:

• People feel scared of such testing due to ‘information overload’ and don’t know the actual fact about STDs and their prevalence.
• Improper availability of testing services. There are some labs that will simply turn people off due to long wait times, rudeness, distance, inconvenience, or one very common reason people are deterred from STD testing, the privacy of the test.
• Some people believe myths they hear about these deadly diseases, and they think that STDs are very rare, when in reality STDs are more common than ever. Moreover, they also presume that having oral sex will keep you safe from being affected by STDs- This is NOT true.

These are the excuses people give to overlook or downplay the significance of STD testing. People must educate themselves and research these diseases to make the necessary informed decisions regarding testing.

Why is STD testing so important?

STD testing is undoubtedly imperative for people who are engaged in sexual relationships. There is no escaping from the facts or the importance of getting tested because all myths and excuses are enough to cause serious misconceptions regarding STDs. Some other reasons STD testing is so important include:

• It provides a tangible report in regard to whether or not a person is afflicted with an STD
• It saves people from many chronic diseases and alerts them of the importance of discussing medications and safety with the doctor.
• It strengthens loving relationships with your partner and helps each person feel more secure. If you love someone, it is your responsibility to yourself and your partner to know your STD status. STD testing is often a large and positive step forward in the course of a relationship.

Moreover, the ultimate benefit of this type of testing is the safety of the people from deadly diseases. A large concern is having a lab that provides the services for this testing in a proper manner. There are innumerable labs prevailing in the market to choose from. Therefore, you must have a proper list of your expected services to make an educated comparison and choose the best one. Here are some services that you would surely need to consider when selecting a lab for STD testing.

• The lab must be equipped with all the required instruments to provide flawless and accurate results and a professional report
• There should be an option to test anonymously
• Results should be provided in a timely manner, typically within 3-4 days
• An option should be in place to have instant delivery of the report, keeping the privacy of the applicants in mind.
• The charges for testing must be nominal and within reason. Look for a lab that offers a full STD panel for under $400.
• Most importantly, the lab must offer testing for the most common sexually transmitted diseases such as :

1. HIV testing
2. Genital Herpes I&II
3. Chlamydia
4. Hepatitis B
5. Hepatitis C
6. Gonorrhea
7. Syphilis

Overall, it is the responsibility of the individual to move forward with STD testing to secure their lives as well as the life of their partner or partners. By taking responsibility for your sexual health, you can have a secure, pleasant, and most importantly, safe sexual life.


(STD Testing Boca Raton)

DNA Testing: Know your ancestry

In the medical field, DNA testing has important implications- as it is often used by people who would like know about their paternity or ancestry. Usually researchers and forensic lab people use this service to find out about a person's identity as well as their relationship to siblings. In the current scenario, DNA testing provides information about the ancestry of the person or their relationship with particular people. DNA testing is used by people from all walks of life for many different reasons and under diverse circumstances, whether it is about evaluating the relationship of the people or exploring the ancestry of the people. Therefore, when DNA testing is administered by the experts, you can receive an accurate result.

Most DNA collections done at home or by people who are inexperienced are flawed. This may be due to improper collection, tampering, storage, or handling. To have a DNA test that is accurate and verifiable, it is advisable to see DNA testing experts who have been highly trained in their field.

However, it is not difficult to accumulate the information about the best place to conduct your DNA testing.

There are many labs available offering 'accurate results', but you have to research thoroughly to find one that will do the job properly. Initially, you can prepare a list of expected services. Here are few services you should look for when you are shopping for DNA testing:

• Instant services (Testing, making report and delivering report) to the people who apply for testing of DNA
• Assurance of accurate results with minimum errors (ie:99.9% accuracy with a buccal swab)
• There should be a highly expert and professional team to conduct DNA testing
• The DNA lab should perform not only one test, but verify the result by running the test twice for the highest level of accuracy
• The lab must be accredited by a legitimate authority
• It is better to have options of confidentiality and anonymity. If the applicant wants to conceal his/her identity then the lab must have a service to hide his/her identity from the public.
• The lab should have certified DNA collectors who are knowledgeable and thorough

These are the services that you might expect from the lab service providers. However, there are some other factors depending on location.

• The charges of such testing must be nominal
• There should be personalized services so that the applicants feel secure
• You can check the reviews and testimonials of the previous users who have already used the service of that particular lab.

Aspects of Testing DNA:

There are multiple areas that DNA testing is incorporated such as:

• Prenatal testing
• Paternity
• Sibling relationship
• Twin zygosity
• Maternity testing and others such as Ancestry testing

All these factors and details contribute to you receiving the best service from the best DNA laboratory. There are several labs available that properly follow all the guidelines described above. Such labs highly prioritize the customer satisfaction concept. They provide comprehensive testing services for the public. DNA testing should be an area of focus, even if the lab provides other types of vital testing.

A DNA lab should assure people that their results will be available within a certain time frame (typically 5-7 business days) Moreover, such reliable labs usually offer extra services that set them apart from less reputable laboratories. These labs offer coupons so that clients can enjoy discount pricing and save substantial amount of money. They should enable people to make appointments with the professional experts instantly in order to have a consultation about their issues. Overall, this type of lab should encompass all significant features that help people in getting a flawless and reliable report. The accuracy of the report is an indispensable aspect of DNA testing. The best outcomes will be for people who find the most knowledgeable laboratories who embody the qualities listed above.

(DNA Testing)

Drug Testing: Drug content screening

Drug testing is a systematic scientific procedure for detection of the absence or presence of illegal drug content in the human body. It is a useful service for society, in order to keep it safe and secure. There are multiple aspects of drug testing that one must go through in order to understand it completely. It is basically for the general safety of people and it helps them understand that an addiction can often lead them towards death. This service is used in multiple sectors ensuring that there are no people abusing drugs that can interfere with their own safety or the safety of others. However, drug addicted people are investing in new ways to inject or consume drugs without leaving any trace of them. Therefore, scientists are developing multiple methods of drug testing to ensure the accuracy of the result.

Different areas where drug testing is used:

There are many areas where drug testing is used to ensure safety. There are variable conditions when an individual may have to go through the drug testing process:

• School children – It's alarming but true, children are abusing drugs at younger and younger ages. Therefore, many school administrators conduct drug testing to check that their children and students are safe. In addition t schools, some parents also use this service to ensure that their kids are safe from this addiction.

• Employment screening - This is the most important sector of drug testing. Most organizations adopt this service to ensure that their business is free from drug and alcohol abuse. In order to be accepted for a job, people must go through the drug testing process and pass the test without issue. This is called pre-employment drug testing.

• Law enforcement – There are several conditions wherein the court orders a person to go through the testing procedures. Moreover, in some cases police or other respective authorities conduct the tests.

• Athletics – This drug screening is the most common procedure that every national or international athlete must go through. It is an invaluable tool that helps determine substance abuse. No athlete can move forward in their sport without passing this test.

Methods of drug testing:

There are multiple substantiated methods that are used by the experts to detect drug content in the human body. However, each method has its own advantages.

Hair testing: In recent times, this method of specimen collection has been gaining popularity in due to its highly accurate results and long detection window. Typically hair drug testing can detect most drug use as far back as 3 months.

Urine testing: This is the best method when compared to blood testing, but this method does not produce the history of drug abuse like the hair testing. With urine testing, typically drug abuse is only detectable if the use was recent (approximately a week). However, in order to test the current status of the drug content, this is the best and most convenient method of conducting drug screening.

Blood testing: This method is the least accurate and least ordered way to collect specimens for drug testing. Most technicians only use this method to monitor drug use in the last few hours. However, it does have some benefits as it provides a short-term history of drug abuse, but accuracy of the result deteriorates.

All of these are specific significant methods of drug screening used by technicians to detect drug abuse. There are many labs available that offer drug testing services to the public at nominal rates. You can easily compare and identify the best lab in terms of your expected service. Usually, you would be expecting a lab incorporated with:

• Instant delivery of reports
• Personalized service
• Privacy and confidentiality
• Nominal rate of the service
• Assurance of accurate results
• Hassle-free process of appointment
• The option of Anonymous testing

These are the most commonly expected services from drug testing service providers.

(Drug Testing)

STD Testing – A Must for Everyone

Illnesses and diseases do not always make their presence known immediately. Most of the developed world has woken up to the significance of getting tests done as soon as they believe something is amiss rather than waiting for one’s health to seriously deteriorate. STDs or Sexually transmitted diseases, are one such kind whose presence often goes undetected. It often comes to light only when the symptoms, which can seem harmless at first, tend to become more noticeable and painful . Hence, STD testing for anyone who is sexually active is imperative and even those who have limited sexual conduct should check themselves regularly.

Here is a list of some of the most common sexually transmitted diseases:

Here are a few diseases regularly checked for using STD testing; These diseases are very common and their remedial medicines and diagnostic tests are available everywhere.

• Chlamydia
• Gonorrhea
• Syphilis
• Herpes I&II
• HIV/AIDS
• Hepatitis B and C

If you lead an active sexual lifestyle there is vitually no way to avoid some risks associated with STDs. The best and the most effective course of action would be to take the necessary precautions and commit to doing STD testing as often as possible. These actions are imperative to your own health as well as the health of those you are intimate with. Especially throughout the stages of pregnancy, often gynecologists cannot treat you for sexually transmitted diseases and if left untreated, these diseases can pose severe risks to both the Mother and to the life of the unborn child. It goes back to the old adage, "Better safe than sorry". In such a scenario, if you were to desire to get pregnant with a child, it is always advisable to get STD testing done prior to conception. This will reduce the likelihood of complications that could arise during the course of the pregnancy.

At-home STD testing:
There are many at-home test kids for STD testing just like the ones that you get for the confirmation of your pregnancy. These are simple kits where one needs just a sample of your urine or a genital swab. However, some of the STD testing kits require both samples for correct and accurate results. The benefit of at-home testing kits is that these tests can be done in the privacy of your home without anyone else being privy to your secrets.

The biggest drawback here is that many times, the accuracy of the results is reduced due to improper collection and no medical knowledge about how these specimens are to be taken. It is better by far to go to a professional lab where experienced medical personnel can assist you in selecting tests, conduct proper and sanitary specimen collection, verify test accuracy, and explain laboratory results. Moreover, with the high rate of false positives often incurred with at home testing, you run a high risk of leaving a potentially life threatening situation left untreated. You can only reduce this undeniable risk if you are diligent enough to seek out a medical professional to assist you with STD testing.

Preconceived notions tend to make us believe that the only people who need to undergo STD testing are those who have multiple sex partners or lead high-risk lifestyles. But the reality is that all of us must get these tests done regardless of our age, sexual preference, or lifestyle. STD testing can be done at either diagnostic centers or at hospitals. Doctors and medical practitioners advise us to get STD testing done once every two years in order to diagnose the disease as early as possible and start taking the proper precautions against them.

(STD Testing)