Rapid (THC) Marijuana Drug Test (Cassette) description:

The Marijuana Drug Test (THC Drug Test), or The Cortez Diagnostics, Inc. DOA (Drug of Abuse) test, is an immunochromatography based one step in vitro test. The Marijuana drug test is designed for qualitative determination of marijuana drug substances in human urine specimens. This assay may be used in the point of care setting.

The agents of the Marijuana drug that cause various biological effects in humans are called cannabinoid. Cannabinoid is a central nervous stimulant that alters mood and sensory perceptions, produces loss of coordination, impairs short term memory, and produces symptoms of anxiety, paranoia, depression, confusion, hallucination, and increased heart rate. Large doses of the marijuana drug, or cannabinoid, could cause the development of tolerances and physiological dependency and lead to abuse. A tolerance to the cardiac and psychotropic effects of the marijuana drug cannabinoid can occur and withdrawal syndrome produces restlessness, insomnia, anorexia and nausea. D9-THC is the primary active ingredient in the marijuana drug, or cannabinoids. The main metabolite excreted in the urine is 11-nor-D9-THC-9-COOH, which are found within hours of exposure to the marijuana drug and remain detectable in the urine for 3-10 days after smoking.

The Marijuana Drug Testing device is based on the principle of specific immunochemical reaction between antibodies and antigens to analyze particular compounds in human urine specimen. The assay relies on the competition for binding antibody between drug conjugate and free drug which may be present in the urine specimen being tested. When the marijuana drug is present in the urine specimen, it competes with drug conjugate for the limited amount of antibody-dye conjugate. When the amount of the marijuana drug is equal or more than the cut-off, it will prevent the binding of drug conjugate to the antibody. Therefore, a positive urine specimen on the marijuana drug test will not show a colored band on the test line zone, indicating a positive result, while the presence of a colored band indicates a negative result. A control line is present in the test window to work as procedural control. This colored band should always appear on the control line zone if the Marijuana drug testing device is stored in good condition and the Marijuana drug test is performed appropriately.

This Marijuana Drug Test (THC Drug Test) provides only a preliminary analytical test result. A more specific alternative chemical method must be used in order to obtain a confirmed analytical result. Gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry (GC/MS) has been established as the preferred confirmatory method by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Clinical consideration and professional judgment should be applied to any drug of abuse test result, particularly when preliminary positive results are indicated.

The optional built-in Adulteration Test is for validation of urine specimen’s integrity and must not be used for In Vitro diagnostic use. The cutoff level for this Marijuana Drug Test (THC Drug Test) is 50 ng/ml of 11-nor-D9-THC-9-COOH. For customized cutoff level marijuana drug tests, please contact Customer Service. This Marijuana Drug Test (THC Drug Test) is available in multi-panel, cassette, strip, or cup format.