Marijuana THC Test:
Why Marijuana THC Test?
CLINICAL INFORMATION
Herbal medications (chemical substances with active principles purified from plant extracts) obtained from plant sources have an impact on the human body and the mind. Many such synthetic chemicals that are also commercially available as products (such as forbidden recreation substances) are used as abusive drugs of abuse and are thus banned. Some drugs have a tendency to make a person (user) very active and energetic (as it provides a rush and is believed to increase productivity and performance) eg. Adderall, cocaine, meth, Ecstasy etc (such as nerve stimulants – Central Nervous System Stimulants, since they stimulate the brain cells), while other groups of drugs make others feel calm and relaxed eg. Alcohol, opiates, barbiturates etc (since they suppress or masks the functioning of the brain cells - Central Nervous System Depressants) eg. Hallucinogens like LSD, PCP, Psilocybin Mushroom etc (cause “tripping” – Since it alters user’s perception of reality as it often results in auditory and visual hallucinations). Hence these abusive drugs are also called either ‘uppers’ or even ‘downers’ respectively. But constant use of either CNS Stimulants or CNS Depressants, (in normal people without any underlying CNS pathologies without a physician’s prescription) beyond any doubt, certainly will have their own harmful impact in the long run. Hence, therefore to avoid such situations, many countries in the world have established a legal classification for forbidden drugs eg DEA- Drug Enforcement Administration, World Anti-Doping Agency (in sports). DREs classify abusive drugs in one of seven categories: CNS Depressants, CNS Stimulants, hallucinogens, dissociative anaesthetics, narcotic analgesics, inhalants and cannabis. Marijuana is also called ganja, weed, Mary Jane etc. it is a greenish-grey mixture of the dried flowers of Cannabis sativa. Some people smoke marijuana in hand-rolled cigarettes, dabbing, vaping etc. THC (Delta 9 Tetra Hydro Cannabinol) is a mind-altering (can change the mood or alters consciousness) psychoactive chemical in marijuana. It triggers food, sex, and pleasure centre in the brain and moreover unleashes dopamine (which gives a euphoric and relaxed feeling). In the long run of chronic abuse, it can cause complications. It induces unpleasant emotions with feelings of being afraid, anxious, panic or paranoid etc, gradually leading to clinical depression. Marijuana - THC (Delta 9 Tetra Hydro Cannabinol) Tests are usually performed for drug abuse is performed in collected sample specimens such as blood or urine. The ingested drug eventually breaks down as metabolites by the body and is expelled through urine. Urine samples specimens are preferred over blood because it is way more accurate and also due to the fact that the drug leaves the blood a lot faster than in the urine. This test is performed to screen for and to monitor abuse of drugs (Marijuana - THC) and helps to detect and evaluate the presence of intoxication (eg overdose of drugs) and moreover in prognosis (monitor patient’s compliance with medicines etc). The test result indicates either positive, negative or inconclusive/invalid. A positive result means that a high amount of metabolites (Marijuana - THC) were found in the suspects' urine for the drug indicated and moreover the test result reveals the details of the drugs ingested along with the concentration of its metabolite in the urine sample specimen. The initial screen reveals the presence of drugs and is further confirmed by other tests such as Mass Spectroscopy.
General Instructions:
Sample Requirement: Specimen - Blood sample collected from the vein. Test Preparation: Fasting Required.
NOTE - Sample for specimen collections may vary based on the patient’s condition/cases according to the patient’s presenting complaints/signs or symptoms:
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT (Special or Rare Cases) - As instructed and guided by Physician / Clinician / Pathologist / as per Laboratory’s requirements, according to procedures and protocols.
This Multi-Specialty Clinical Referral Laboratory RT DIAGNOSTICS provides precise and accurate tests with an extensive range of testing services to the medical centres to help in the diagnosis and identification of pathology in the test specimens for infectious diseases and also to evaluate the function of organ systems of the patient. It prevents further complications and helps to stabilize and restore health to near normalcy at the earliest without delay.
