| Handling a Diluted Test Result |
If you are notified of a test result for one of your employees that indicates that he/she has a diluted specimen, the COATS substance abuse policy prohibits issuing a COATS card for diluted specimens. Your employee will need to be recollected and give a valid (not diluted) specimen before a COATS card can be issued. The collection should take place as soon as possible. |
| Explanation of a diluted specimen |
| The laboratory tests each specimen for drugs but also performs other tests to assure that the urine provided is a valid specimen. Every specimen will be evaluated for proper levels of creatinine, specific gravity and pH. Specimens, which have a combination of low creatinine and low specific gravity, are considered DILUTE SPECIMENS - meaning they did not fall in the normal accepted range. The laboratory makes a notation on the test result if it is a dilute specimen. |
| What causes diluted specimens? |
| Diluted specimens are usually caused by over hydration - meaning a person has either intentionally or unintentionally consumed a large enough volume of fluid to put the body into a temporary state of over hydration. Dilution can also be caused by adding fluid to the urine at the time of collection. This is not usually the reason for the dilute since the temperature of the urine is monitored and a warm water source should be not available during the collection process. |
| Click here to see the notice that can be presented to the employee following a diluted test. This will provide adequate information to the employee regarding the COATS policy on retesting. |
