MEPS Drug and Alcohol Testing 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What minimum urine volume is required to complete a standard MEPS drug test collection?
- 15 mL
- 30 mL
- 45 mL (Correct answer)
- 60 mL
Correct answer: 45 mL
Federal guidelines require a minimum of 45 mL of urine to perform the required drug screening and allow for a split-sample confirmation if needed.
Question 2: Which drug panel is most commonly used at MEPS for initial screening?
- DOT 5-panel (Correct answer)
- SAMHSA 10-panel
- Military 12-panel
- DoD 10-panel
Correct answer: DOT 5-panel
The DOT 5-panel (marijuana, cocaine, opiates, phencyclidine, and amphetamines) forms the baseline of MEPS drug testing, with the military often adding additional substances.
Question 3: Synthetic cannabinoids (like 'Spice' or 'K2') are a concern at MEPS primarily because:
- They are more dangerous than marijuana
- They may not be detected by standard THC immunoassay screens (Correct answer)
- They are legal in all states
- They cause longer detection windows than marijuana
Correct answer: They may not be detected by standard THC immunoassay screens
Synthetic cannabinoids have chemical structures that differ from THC and may evade standard immunoassay tests, though expanded military panels may target them specifically.
Question 4: If a MEPS urine sample tests positive on the initial immunoassay screen, what is the required next step?
- The applicant is immediately disqualified
- The result is reported to the recruiter
- A confirmatory GC-MS or LC-MS/MS test must be performed (Correct answer)
- The applicant is asked to retest the same day
Correct answer: A confirmatory GC-MS or LC-MS/MS test must be performed
All positive immunoassay screens must be confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry before being reported as positive.
Question 5: An applicant takes over-the-counter ibuprofen before their MEPS test. Which drug panel result could theoretically be affected?
- Cocaine
- THC (marijuana) (Correct answer)
- PCP
- Opioids
Correct answer: THC (marijuana)
High doses of ibuprofen have historically caused false positives for THC on some immunoassay screens, though modern assays have largely addressed this cross-reactivity.
Question 6: Which of the following correctly describes the temperature requirement for a urine specimen collected at MEPS?
- Between 90–100°F (32–38°C) measured within 4 minutes (Correct answer)
- Between 80–90°F measured within 10 minutes
- Room temperature is acceptable if sealed properly
- Temperature is only checked if the collector suspects tampering
Correct answer: Between 90–100°F (32–38°C) measured within 4 minutes
Federal specimen collection guidelines require the temperature to be checked within four minutes of collection and must fall between 90–100°F to confirm the specimen is fresh and unaltered.
Question 7: What action should a MEPS collector take if a urine specimen's temperature falls outside the acceptable range?
- Discard the sample and reschedule the test
- Document the anomaly and collect a second specimen under direct observation (Correct answer)
- Accept the specimen but flag it in the system
- Report the applicant for tampering automatically
Correct answer: Document the anomaly and collect a second specimen under direct observation
An out-of-range temperature is treated as a potential adulteration, requiring a second specimen collected under direct observation while the original is still sent for testing.
MEPS Drug and Alcohol Testing 3
What minimum urine volume is required to complete a standard MEPS drug test collection?