The integrity of the sample produced by an individual is of paramount importance to the drug testing laboratory. Traditionally only creatinine has been used as a marker for confirming the validity of a human urine sample, but for synthetic urine producers this is a cheap and easy addition to a solution as well as colour to “fool” instant devices and screening machines alike.

While creatinine usually works well, it can be affected by clinical conditions and situational factors not related to attempted adulteration. These include drinking tea and coffee (both of which are mild diuretics), loss of muscle mass, renal dysfunction, and pregnancy.

Due to the rise in demand for fake urine, Safework Health’s drug testing laboratories have added additional testing analytes to their screening immunoassay methods. The addition of Urea and Uric Acid and calcium has led to a significant increase in our detection of fake urine.

Individuals trying to pass a drug test may use urinary adulterants. These are substances that are added to urine after collection to interfere with drug tests. Examples include:

• Stealth (peroxidase and peroxide)
• Klear (nitrite)
• Clean ADD-IT-ive (glutaraldehyde)
• Urine Luck (pyridinium chlorochromate [PCC])
• Iodine. Iodine is a strong oxidizing agent which can oxidize the common marijuana metabolites, commonly termed “carboxy-THC”
• Pawpaw juice. Pawpaw contains the enzyme papain, which significantly reduces the concentration of the marijuana metabolite, carboxy-THC, when added to urine.

Fortunately, detection of these adulterants is relatively easy as Safework Health’s drug screening service also tests for oxidants and pH in urine which the majority of these adulterants rely on.

Contact us today for information on how we can keep your workplace safe from synthetic urine.