Our Customer First Commitment

A Trusted Partner In Drug Testing

We here at Premier Biotech believe above all else in providing our customers with much more than just products at a price. Our commitment to service permeates throughout every aspect of our business. Creating personalized customer experiences, through continued training, toxicology support and an unwavering commitment to our customers, is what we believe truly differentiates us from other drug testing product providers and laboratories.

Ensuring our customers get the answers they need when they need them is a top priority for us. In most cases, questions relating to testing procedures and toxicology can be quite urgent. We believe in becoming a true partner in providing prompt support from our team of experienced customer service professionals and Certifying Scientists.

Expert Support

The Premier Biotech Labs team is here to provide our customers with real-time assistance. Our Certifying Scientists primary responsibilities include:

• Checking each batch of patients and making sure that the standards and controls pass each of our parameters.

• Checking the chromatography of each patient in the batch, making sure it passes each of our parameters.

• Reviewing the final report of each sample individually confirming that the name and client information is entered correctly, and that the results make sense. For example, if we saw a parent drug present without a metabolite, we may repeat the sample to confirm the results.

• Receiving calls from clients, probation officers, and donors helping to interpret the meaning of the results listed on the final report. Identify anomalies that may be present, whether the results are consistent with any prescribed medications, or helping determine trends over time.

Common Customer Questions

The following is a sampling of common questions and answers our team have assisted our customers with. To view additional frequently asked questions, we have made available a number of others that can be found in our FAQ section.

13 Panel Cup

AMP500, BAR, BUP, BZO, COC150, MDMA, MET500, MTD, OPI300, OXY, PCP, TCA, THC

Why would my rapid result vary from laboratory LC-MS/MS result?

Rapid results provide an initial qualitative screen. The technology used is called immunoassay, which delivers a rapid, non specific, positive or negative result. Conversely, the high complexity LC-MS/MS confirmation testing provides absolute specific results, with no cross reactivity. Additionally, screens are not as sensitive as confirmation testing. It is imperative that confirmation testing employs lower cut-off levels than the screen.

A positive rapid test and a negative laboratory confirmation test may be a result of something in the donor’s system cross reacting. This most often happens with donors who are taking a long list of OTC and/or prescribed medications. The chances that the metabolites of one of these drugs in their system is cross-reacting with one of the strips is increased. The LC-MS/MS method is highly specific, and is able to rule out any cross-reactant, by searching only for the specific molecular compound that is unique to the drug in question.

Which analytes react with the opiate strip?

Morphine, codeine, norcodeine, heroin, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone will cause the opiate strip to be positive. Oxycodone, fentanyl, and tramadol have their own strips, and will NOT cause the opiate strip to be positive.

What is the primary differences between urine and oral fluid testing?

The important thing to understand about urine and oral fluid drug testing is that they are both accurate, reliable and valid testing methods. Oral fluid testing is 100% observed, this eliminates the need for private restrooms and removes the risk of adulteration by substitution, dilution, or additives.

Oral fluid testing allows for immediate detection, whereas urine requires the drug to metabolize after being consumed which can take up to 6-12 hours depending on the drug and donor metabolism.

Urine-based rapid drug testing has a longer window of detection, for most drugs from 24-72 hours, whereas oral ï¬‚uid testing is 24-36 hours for water-soluble drugs. The biggest difference is in the detection window of THC. Since THC is a fat-soluble, rather than a water-soluble drug, it does not cross directly into oral ï¬‚uid. Therefore, THC is detected as residual smoke or parent compound in saliva, not as a metabolite. As a result, THC can only be detected for up to 24 hours in oral ï¬‚uid testing.

Are heroin and fentanyl two separate drugs?

Yes. In order to effectively test for heroin and fentanyl, you need to use two different and specific test strips or laboratory confirmation tests. However, it is important to note that there has recently been an epidemic of heroin laced with fentanyl showing up in the US. Although they are two separate, structurally independent drugs, donors often are positive for both at the same time, due to use of this dangerous mixture of drugs.

Why are there so many K2 analytes listed on my Synthetic Cannabinoids panel?

Synthetic cannabinoids (synthetic marijuana/spice/K2) are ever changing. With new compounds being synthesized all the time, labs have to increase the amount of analytes on their drug panels in order to keep up with what is currently on the market. With a wider range of analytes on each panel, we have a better chance of finding positives for those who consume these drugs.

What is the detection window for THC in urine?

The detection window for chronic users is up to 45 days, while the detection window for single use is 1-3 days. One of the most common misconceptions is that THC will remain in urine for 1 month and therefore, collectors may attribute positive results to previous use, rather than new use. It is really important to remember that typically for “weekend warriors” meaning people who use over weekend and abstain during the week usually show positive results for 1-3 days, depending on hydration levels. THC is one of the only analytes we test for that has two separate detection windows, depending on type of usage. The extended window for chronic users makes it more complicated to determine whether new usage has or has not occurred. With frequent enough testing, certifying scientists at the lab can often help with determining whether new usage has occurred in someone who used to chronically consume THC.

Would an Adderall prescription cause methamphetamine to be positive?

No. The active ingredient in Adderall and other similar ADHD medications is amphetamine. The lab separates out amphetamine and methamphetamine results in our confirmation tests. Amphetamine should be positive when Adderall has been consumed, but only the illicit drug methamphetamine can cause a methamphetamine positive.

What do results look like when heroin has been used?

If a standard OPI 2000 or OPI 300 rapid test is used, there is no way to differentiate between heroin, codeine, hydrocodone (Vicodin), morphine, or a combination of these. Only a high complexity laboratory confirmation test can identify the presence of 6-acetylmorphine (6-AM) which is a heroin-exclusive metabolite. However, Premier Biotech now has a specific rapid (onsite) test for 6-AM which does not cross react with the other opiates and would therefore indicate heroin.

These three characteristics of a sample are measured to help determine whether or not a sample has been adulterated. If any of these three characteristics are outside the normal range for human urine, one should be suspicious of substances that may have been added to the urine, in order to cause a false negative. Positive results can still be trusted for abnormal samples.

What does "Dilute Specimen" mean?

A dilute specimen is a specimen that has very low creatinine levels. Creatinine is the measurement of how concentrated a urine sample is. When a sample is “dilute,” the creatinine measurement is less than 20 mg/dL. At these levels, one should be suspicious of adulteration. Intentionally drinking large amounts of water, or pouring water into the sample itself, are common ways in which donors may try to adulterate their sample via dilution. This may dilute the levels of drug in the urine below the detection limit of what we are able to test for, causing a false negative result. Positive results can still be trusted for dilute samples.

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