POCT (Rapid Drug Test / Point-of-Care Test)
An on-site drug screening device that provides preliminary results within minutes, requiring laboratory confirmation for any non-negative result.
Key Facts
- Provides preliminary results in 5–15 minutes on-site
- Uses immunoassay technology on urine, oral fluid, or hair
- Positive rapid test must be confirmed by laboratory GC-MS/LC-MS
- NOT DOT-compliant as a standalone test
- Useful for pre-employment, reasonable suspicion, and workplace incidents
A rapid drug test (also called point-of-care test or POCT) uses lateral-flow immunoassay technology to produce preliminary drug screening results in 5–15 minutes at the collection site. Available for urine, oral fluid, and hair specimens, rapid tests can screen for panels ranging from 5 to 14+ substances. Negative results are available immediately; however, any non-negative (positive, adulterated, or invalid) result must be sent to a certified laboratory for confirmation testing by GC-MS or LC-MS/MS. Rapid tests are not DOT-compliant as standalone tests but can serve as the screening step in a two-stage process. They are valuable for reasonable suspicion, post-incident situations, and employers needing fast results.
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