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From: Kevin L. White
Password: orange
Date: 21 Dec 2007
Time: 22:45:36 -0800
Remote Name: 70.100.193.221
In response to the four questions posted by Dr. Steve:
(1) Why would you or anyone (I reference previous threads) send in a negative POC test?
If I have any reason to suspect that a specimen may be diluted intentionally I will send it to be tested even if it is negative on the POCT strip. The reason we send off these suspicious specimens for lab-based testing is that each of these tests are court-ordered for criminal cases.
(2) The “standard” cutoff for PCP is 25 ng./ml. Why is this being reported positive at a level of 4 ng/ml?
The report that I receive from the lab shows this specific result to be positive at 4 ng/mL. The cutoff level used by the lab is 4 ng/mL. My POCT strip has a 25 ng/mL cutoff. I do not know why the lab uses a 4 ng/mL cutoff instead of 25 ng/mL. These tests are not workplace tests -- they are for court purposes, which is probably why the cutoff levels differ from those used in workplace testing.
(3) What was the specific gravity and creatinine levels?
Specific gravity is reported abnormal and creatinine is reported as abnormal -- there were no levels reported.
(4) You mention a "status hearing." Concerning what issues?
This hearing is to determine whether or not this person receives jail time or an alternative sentence on a criminal charge.