FAQ

• Patients taking controlled substances
• Patients dealing with addiction
• Patients taking more than one drug
• Patients taking new drugs
• Patients displaying abnormal symptoms or behaviors
• Patients in transition between treatments

We work with hospitals and surgical centers, primary care practices, internal medicine offices, addiction specialists and treatment centers, mental health professionals and psychiatrists, pain management experts and providers, and many others.

We use liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS) to confirm positive toxicology screens.

There are no risks associated with urine and saliva testing.

At Spark Labs, our turnaround times are in the top 10% nationwide. Providers can expect to obtain their reports within 24-48 hours from when we receive the samples.

• Insufficient sample quantity — Samples must be at least 2mL in volume.
• Improper labeling — Specimens must be labeled with patient name, DOB, SS number/medical record number, and order number.
• Specimen leakage — Leaks can cause potential cross-contamination, making them unsuitable for analysis.
• Specimen has been adulterated — The ratio of the parent drug to its metabolites can show evidence of adulteration.
• Specimen has violated stability requirements — Specimens that have exceeded storage limits may be rejected.

COVID test results are typically available within 1 hour.

Metabolites are byproducts created when the body metabolizes an ingested drug. Every person metabolizes drugs in a similar fashion, making metabolites a predictable and reliable indicator that a certain “parent” drug has been used by the patient. Because metabolites stay in the body much longer than their parent counterparts, drug use is more accurately assessed by measuring metabolites rather than the parent drugs themselves. Testing for metabolites can also help eliminate test tampering and manipulation. If the parent drug is present in higher concentrations while the metabolites are present in much lower concentrations, it becomes apparent that a sample has been adulterated.

While samples can be taken in the form of blood, hair, and saliva, urine testing is often preferred because it is a simple, non-invasive option that poses minimal risk to the patient or the provider. Hair analysis is more time-consuming and requires higher drug concentrations than urine analysis. At Spark Labs, we perform both urine and saliva analyses.