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Understanding Drug and Alcohol Testing

Learn from the AttoSure blog

Will Tramadol Show Up on a Drug Test?

Published 04/06/2025

Tramadol is a prescription opioid often used to treat moderate to severe pain. While it’s legal for medical use, its misuse has grown—raising concerns for employers, occupational health teams, and clinical professionals. Whether you're overseeing patient care or managing a safety-critical workforce, understanding how Tramadol is detected in drug tests is essential for maintaining a safe, compliant environment.

Will Codeine Show Up on a Drug Test?

Published 04/06/2025

Codeine is a prescription opioid used to treat mild to moderate pain and coughing. While it has important medical uses, codeine is a controlled substance in the UK and poses a risk of misuse and dependency. As a result, healthcare professionals and employers must be aware of how to detect and interpret codeine use in clinical and workplace drug testing.

List of Foods That Can Cause a False Positive Drug Test

Published 04/06/2025

Workplace drug and alcohol testing using Point of Care Tests (POCTs) is a widely used method to quickly screen employees for drug or alcohol use on-site. These tests are convenient, but they’re not perfect—certain everyday foods and over-the-counter (OTC) products can trigger false positive results.

How Long Does Cocaine Stay in the System? A Practical Guide for Employers

Published 30/05/2025

Cocaine misuse is climbing in the UK, with a 2023 ONS report showing a 12% rise in cocaine-related deaths year-on-year and increasing detection in wastewater samples across major cities. As cocaine becomes more available—and more socially accepted in some circles—it’s no surprise that its presence is increasingly felt in the workplace.

Expert Tips for Effective BBV Testing

Published 23/05/2025

Blood-borne virus (BBV) testing is a crucial part of health screening, especially in high-risk environments such as prisons, mental health facilities, drug rehabilitation centers, homeless shelters, and outreach services. It enables early detection of serious infections like HIV, Hepatitis B (HBV), and Hepatitis C (HCV), helping to prevent further transmission through timely intervention and support.

Oral Fluid Testing for Workplaces and Healthcare Settings

Published 23/05/2025

Oral fluid drug testing (or salvia drug testing) is growing in popularity due to its quick, non-invasive collection process and its ability to detect recent drug use. It is particularly valuable in workplace drug screening, mental health facilities, and community outreach settings across the UK.

Urine Cup Drug Testing

Published 23/05/2025

Urine drug testing remains one of the most established and reliable methods for detecting a wide range of substances. It is widely used across criminal justice systems, addiction treatment programs, and workplace drug screening. While highly dependable, urine testing can be vulnerable to tampering if not properly supervised. Common forms of tampering include using synthetic urine or adding adulterants to the sample to interfere with results.

Will Cocaine Show Up on a Drug Test?

Published 21/05/2025

Cocaine is one of the most misused Class A drugs in the UK. With usage and availability on the rise, employers, clinicians, and occupational health teams must be equipped with the right tools to detect and manage cocaine use in professional and clinical settings. In this blog, we explore how cocaine is detected, what it shows up as, how long it stays in the system, and what to watch out for when reviewing test results in workplace and healthcare environments.

Will Cannabis Show Up on a Drug Test?

Published 19/05/2025

Cannabis, also known by names like weed, pot, grass, or skunk, is one of the most widely used—and tested—drugs in the UK. While some forms of medical cannabis are legally prescribed, most cannabis use remains illegal, especially in workplace and safety-sensitive environments.

InTec Rapid Anti-HIV Test

Published 02/05/2025

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) remains a significant global health concern. The InTec Rapid Anti-HIV Test offers a fast, accurate, and accessible method to detect HIV antibodies in human whole blood, serum, or plasma. With results available in just 15 minutes, this finger-prick blood test is an essential tool for healthcare professionals and trained healthcare workers, enabling early diagnosis, counselling, and intervention.

Ketamine, Poppy Seeds & Expired Tests — Know the Risks

Published 07/04/2025

Frontline professionals regularly face decisions based on drug and BBV test results—but those results are only as reliable as the conditions around them. Could you spot a false positive? Would you notice if the test kit was expired?

False Positives, CBD Confusion & Tampering Tactics

Published 04/04/2025

In environments like mental health units, probation settings, or substance recovery services, a single test result can influence major decisions—from medication plans to safeguarding actions. But not every result is straightforward.

How Much Do You Really Know About Drug & BBV Testing?

Published 21/03/2025

If you work in a mental health unit, supported housing project, criminal justice setting, or substance treatment service, you already know how critical rapid testing is. But how confident are you that you understand the finer details—like timing, tampering, and test sensitivity? Take our quiz and find out!

Toyo Rapid HBsAg Test

Published 03/03/2025

Hepatitis B is a serious viral infection that affects the liver and can lead to chronic disease if left undiagnosed. The Toyo Rapid HBsAg Test provides a fast, accurate, and user-friendly solution for detecting Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), delivering results within just 15 minutes. This simple finger-prick blood test is designed for healthcare professionals and trained healthcare workers, enabling early diagnosis and intervention.

What Does KET Mean on a Urine Test?

Published 18/02/2025

Ketamine is becoming a drug of concern in various industries, including healthcare and safety-sensitive workplaces. Employers, occupational health providers, and HR teams need to understand how it appears in drug screening programs. If you've come across "KET" on a urine drug test report, or you're wondering, "Does ketamine show in drug tests?", here’s what you need to know from a workplace and healthcare testing perspective.

InTec Rapid Anti-HCV Test

Published 11/02/2025

Hepatitis C (HCV) remains a significant global health concern, affecting millions of individuals worldwide. Early detection is crucial for managing and preventing the spread of this infectious disease. The InTec Rapid Anti-HCV Test offers a fast, efficient, and reliable method for detecting Hepatitis C antibodies using a simple finger-prick blood test. Designed for ease of use, this test delivers results within 15 minutes, making it an essential tool for various healthcare settings, including prison healthcare and substance treatment services.

The Importance of Laboratory Confirmation Drug Testing

Published 23/12/2024

Drug testing is an essential tool in various industries, from healthcare to the workplace, ensuring safety and compliance. However, it’s important to understand that no single point of care drug test is foolproof. False positives, misinterpretations, and even technical errors can lead to misleading results when conducting rapid screening tests.

How Everyday Foods and Medications Can Affect Drug Test Results

Published 19/12/2024

Drug testing plays a crucial role in workplaces, healthcare settings, and legal systems to ensure safety and compliance. However, despite the reliability of modern point of care drug tests, false positives can sometimes occur. False positives happen when a drug test incorrectly identifies a substance, showing a positive result when the individual hasn’t used that substance at all.

Leveraging Pharmacogenomics (PGx) to Improve Health Outcomes in the Criminal Justice System

Published 23/10/2024

We had the pleasure of attending the 11th Health in Justice Summit at the Royal College of General Practitioners over the 17th and 18th of October, 2024. Amongst the myriad of compelling talks covering issues including peer-to-peer training of prison inmates in BBV testing, cancer detection and treatment in prisons, and barriers to delivering medical care,

The Importance of Delivering BBV Test Results in a Controlled Environment

Published 03/10/2024

When it comes to blood-borne viruses (BBVs) like HIV, hepatitis B (HBV), and hepatitis C (HCV), testing is only half the battle. Delivering the results in a supportive, controlled environment is critical, especially when dealing with potentially life-changing news.

Understanding Blood-Borne Viruses and Testing Methods

Published 01/10/2024

Blood-borne viruses (BBVs) are a major concern in many communities, particularly among vulnerable populations such as those experiencing homelessness, men who have sex with men (MSM), and individuals in drug treatment programs where needle-sharing is common.

Understanding Nitazenes: A Growing Danger

Published 23/09/2024

Nitazenes are a potent class of synthetic opioids. Recently, they’ve become a significant problem in the UK because they’re being mixed with heroin. The result? A dangerous and often lethal cocktail that users are unaware they’re consuming.

The Legal Imperatives of Drug Use and Disease Testing in Prisons

Published 11/09/2024

Prisons and correctional facilities are environments where health, safety, and security intersect with legal obligations. Among these obligations, drug use and disease testing stand out as critical components of ensuring that prisons meet their legal duties to inmates, staff, and society at large

Exploring the Urine Dip Card Test

Published 05/09/2024

The Urine Dip Card Test is a reliable, multi-panel, and non-invasive method for detecting a wide range of substances, making it especially valuable in workplace safety programs and healthcare settings.

The Ideal Portfolio of Rapid and Point-of-Care Tests for Prisons

Published 30/08/2024

Some of the most crucial tools in this setting are the use of rapid BBV and point-of-care (POC) tests. These tests allow for immediate diagnosis and treatment, which is vital in managing the health of incarcerated individuals and preventing the spread of infectious diseases.

Understanding Bloodborne Virus (BBV) Testing: What It Is and How It's Done

Published 27/08/2024

The most common BBVs include Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). These viruses can cause serious health problems, including chronic infections, liver disease, and, in the case of HIV, AIDS. Given their potential to cause significant health issues, early detection through BBV testing is crucial for effective treatment and prevention.

The Crucial Role of Nil By Mouth for Breath Alcohol Testing

Published 22/08/2024

Residual alcohol in the mouth can significantly affect the accuracy of breathalyser tests. If a person has consumed alcohol, used mouthwash, or even certain medications, the residual alcohol can affect the test results.

The Importance of Bloodborne Virus (BBV) Testing in Prisons

Published 21/08/2024

Bloodborne viruses (BBVs) such as Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV), and HIV pose significant public health challenges worldwide. Within the prison population, the prevalence of these viruses is particularly high due to various risk factors, including a history of intravenous drug use, unprotected sex, and limited access to healthcare prior to imprisonment.

Why Point of Care Drug Testing Is Effective in Supported Housing Units

Published 13/08/2024

POC testing provides rapid results, allowing for immediate intervention if drug use is detected. This is essential for managing residents' behaviour and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all residents. Immediate results enable quick decision-making regarding the need for additional support or adjustments in care plans.

The Crucial Role of 6MAM Detection in Healthcare Settings

Published 23/07/2024

6MAM is a unique metabolite of Heroin and its presence in a urine or oral fluid sample confirms Heroin use, distinguishing it from other opioid ingestion such as Morphine or Codeine, which can be crucial for accurate treatment planning, especially in healthcare settings.

Why Laboratory Screening Tests Are Preferred by Some Organisations

Published 17/07/2024

Certain organisations, bodies and principal contractors will only accept laboratory screening samples, with point of care testing methods not accepted within their testing regimes. However, a topic rarely discussed is why some organisations may choose to use laboratory drug screening, instead of point of care testing, for drug screening.

Exploring the Point of Care Urine Cup Test

Published 09/07/2024

The point of care urine cup stands out as an easy to use and versatile method for detecting a wide range of substances, making it particularly valuable in workplace and healthcare settings. This blog will explain what the point of care urine cup test can detect and highlight three reasons why we love it.

Understanding Alcohol Detection: Breath and Urine Tests

Published 05/07/2024

Alcohol consumption can have various social, legal, and health implications. Understanding how long alcohol remains detectable in your system is crucial for making informed decisions. This blog delves into the specifics of how long you can test positive for alcohol using breath and urine tests after a heavy night of drinking.

Exploring the Oral Fluid Barrel Test: A Comprehensive Guide for Workplace and Healthcare Applications

Published 26/06/2024

In today's fast-paced and safety-conscious environments, efficient and reliable diagnostic tools are crucial. The Oral Fluid Barrel Test stands out as a versatile and non-invasive method for detecting a wide range of substances, making it particularly valuable in workplace and healthcare settings.

Navigating the Timeline: How Long Do Common Substances Stay in Your System?

Published 04/06/2024

Understanding the duration that substances like cocaine, speed, cannabis, and alcohol remain in your system is crucial for employees or patients when considering preparation for drug testing. Most workplace and healthcare drug tests are known as “point of care” tests and can be administered spontaneously on-site with little notice, so it’s vital that employees are aware of how long various substances can stay in their system.

Myth or Reality: Do Poppy Seeds Test Positive for Opiates?

Published 03/06/2024

As you may know, most Opiates are derived from the Opium Poppy plant (Papaver somniferum). The natural substances extracted directly from the poppy plant include Morphine, Codeine, and Thebaine, which are the primary alkaloids used to create various Opioid medications.

The Critical Role of Secondary Laboratory Confirmatory Testing in Drug Screening

Published 14/05/2024

In the realm of drug screening, especially in contexts like employment and healthcare, the accuracy of test results is paramount. Whilst initial ‘Point of Care’ screenings provide quick results, they are not foolproof, as certain medications and even foods can impact a test result.

Timely Detection: When Do Drugs Become Detectable in Your System?

Published 09/05/2024

Understanding the time it takes for drugs to become detectable in your system is essential, especially when facing drug testing scenarios. This knowledge is crucial not only for individuals undergoing testing but also for health professionals and those monitoring substance use.

Introducing Drug Testing: How to Communicate with Your Team

Published 09/05/2024

Implementing a drug and alcohol testing policy in the workplace is a significant step toward ensuring a safe and productive environment. Whilst drug testing isn’t necessarily a legal requirement, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 mandates that employers must, as far as is reasonably practicable, ensure the health, safety, and welfare at work of all their employees. This can be interpreted to include taking reasonable steps to prevent employees from working under the influence of drugs or alcohol if this could pose a risk to themselves, their colleagues, or the public.

Claritest Rebrands to AttoSure

Published 01/02/2024

We are excited to announce that Claritest has rebranded to AttoSure. The company’s management structure remains the same, while the branding update marks an investment in our people, processes, and technology.