Sweat Testing

Comparing to Other Drug Tests:

 

Sweat offers a unique testing timeframe and scope with distinct advantages over other drug testing methods. Oral Fluid and Urine testing only detects recent drug use. Hair testing detects long-term chronic drug use; however, it does not detect occasional or one-time drug use.

 

TruPatch™ provides up to 10 days of continuous detection per patch. This extended window of detection provides a more comprehensive picture of behavior, while also acting as a proactive deterrent to drug use.

 

Detection Windows

 

Sweat: Detects any drug use over long periods (Up to 10 days)

Oral Fluid (Saliva): Detects recent drug use (Up to 24 hours)

Urine: Detects recent drug use (Up to 72 hours)

Hair: Detects chronic drug use (Up to 90 days)

 

Additional advantages to sweat testing include noninvasive testing and collection, better accuracy, tamper-evident, and an excellent accountability tool.

 

Noninvasive Testing and Collection

 

Testing with TruPatch™ maintains privacy and does not require invasive sample collection.

 

Better Accuracy

 

Dozens of peer-reviewed academic studies support the accuracy of the Sweat Patch. We work with a CLIA, CAP, and SAMHSA Certified lab. Quality control for specimen screening and confirmation testing is incredibly strict. Each sweat patch that screens positive is automatically advanced to confirmation testing via LC-MS/MS, the gold standard of drug testing. Unlike rapid urine tests, which require you to interpret your own results, each TruPatch™ specimen is evaluated by the lab. Results are then clearly communicated via the website.

 

Tamper-Evident

 

The outer layer of the adhesive that covers the collection pad provides a tamper-evident protective layer. Any signs of attempted removal or substitution are obvious. But even more important, typical methods to alter test results are not effective with sweat testing. Diluting the sample with excessive water consumption does not work, and the parent drug and metabolites cannot be covered up by consuming other foods or drinks.

 

Excellent Accountability Tool

 

TruPatch™ offers a strong indicator of continued sobriety. For individuals recently completing rehab programs, individuals trying to earn back the trust of loved ones, and concerned parents looking for peace of mind, TruPatch™ can stand as a positive reinforcement tool for accountability and recovery.

 

Likewise, with its longer detection period, the Sweat Patch offers a better view into use patterns over time and can serve as an excellent tool for those struggling with addiction recovery.

 

 

Understanding the Results: 

 

“Parent drugs,” rather than drug metabolites, are found in sweat after drug use. A “parent drug” is the drug taken by the drug user, and drug metabolites are the breakdown products of the parent drug. 

 

Because sweat contains both the parent drug and the metabolites, the test can nearly always tell which drug has been taken.

 

The results should be used to find out if any drug use occurred during an extended period of time. If a patch is positive and has a high level of drug, you will not be able to find out whether that high level was caused from multiple small doses or one large dose. The results cannot be used to find out how much of a drug was taken or at what time the drug use occurred.

 

The patch continually collects sweat while the patch is worn. A positive patch result means that the drug use may have occurred anytime 24-48 hours before the patch was placed on, during the wear of the patch, up to 24 hours prior to removal of the patch, or both.

 

Studies have shown that a patch can be positive for a drug between 2 and 24 hours following a single drug use. For this reason, the minimum wear period for the patch is 24 hours.

 

What does a negative test result mean?

 

A negative test result means that either the drugs that were tested were not found in the sample or a very small amount of drugs were found, but not enough to be a positive test result.

 

A negative result in drug testing does not mean that no drugs were present. It means that no drugs were present at or above the cutoff level.

 

What does a positive result mean?

 

A positive test result means that the sample has screened positive for one or more drugs, gone on to confirmation testing, and confirmed positive for one or more drugs.

 

Can a false positive result occur?

 

With any drug test there is a risk of a false positive result. False positive results generally happen at the first stage of drug testing, known as screening. The screening stage is looking for the presence of drugs in a sample. If a sample screens positive for drugs it should be confirmed with a follow-up test using a more precise method. The confirmation test should rule out any false positives and provide a more accurate test result.

 

TruPatch™ samples are screened first for the presence of drugs. If the screening test is negative, the laboratory will release the results. If the screening test is positive the sample will go to confirmation testing. The confirmation test will tell you exactly which drug was found, and the exact amount of drug found in the sample, making the error rate very low.

 

It is important to note that you will only receive a positive patch result for a screening test that has been confirmed.

 

What are the testing methods and cutoff levels?

 

See below testing methods and cutoff values for each drug or drug class/analyte on the Standard Panel and the Expanded Panel at screening and confirmation.