Medical Review Officer (MRO) Assistant Training-Alternative Specimens Laboratory Analysis

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The video discusses hair testing as a common method for drug testing, specifically in pre-employment situations. The speaker explains that hair specimens have become popular due to their ability to provide a three-month drug history. The benefits of hair testing include less invasive collection, direct observation, and resistance to adulteration and substitution. However, there are some challenges, such as variations in detection windows and the need for more sensitive procedures. The speaker also compares hair testing to urine testing, pointing out the pros and cons of each. They discuss the screening and confirmation cut-offs used in hair testing, emphasizing the need for sophisticated mass spectrometry technology. The video highlights the pharmacological aspects of hair testing, including how drugs are incorporated into hair and the different growth stages of hair follicles. External contamination and the detection of drug metabolites are also discussed. The video further presents data on hair testing prevalence rates compared to urine testing for various drugs. The speaker concludes by mentioning a Brazilian drug testing program for drivers, where cocaine was found to be the most commonly detected drug. Overall, the video provides insights into the procedures and considerations related to hair testing for drug detection.

Keywords

hair testing

drug history

urine testing

mass spectrometry

pharmacological aspects

prevalence rates