Case Study 3

Positive urine result challenged
A senior manager working for a car hire company won promotion, and as per company policy, he underwent a urine drug test as part of his medical in advance of taking up the new post. The result was negative but the laboratory noticed the sample comprised more water than average - often an indicator that the subject may have been drinking a lot of water on the day of the test. He was requested to take a hair test instead, which proved positive for speed (amphetamines). The manager strongly denied he took drugs: "perhaps my drink was spiked at last month's party". The hair sample was subsequently cut into 3 one cm sections and each section analysed separately. The results indicated a profile consistent with that of a regular drug user over all 3 months, not a one-off incident. Not only that but TrichoTech was able to determine that the amphetamine was not one prescribed by a doctor but obtained illegally from elsewhere. The manager admitted to an addiction.