MEPS Drug and Alcohol Testing 3

Question 1

What minimum urine volume is required to complete a standard MEPS drug test collection?

Accepted Answer

45 mL

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

DOT 5-panel

Answer

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:

Accepted Answer

They may not be detected by standard THC immunoassay screens

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

A confirmatory GC-MS or LC-MS/MS test must be performed

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

THC (marijuana)

Answer

High doses of ibuprofen have historically caused false positives for THC on some immunoassay screens, though modern assays have largely addressed this cross-reactivity.

MEPS - Military Entrance Processing Stations Practice Test

MEPS - Military Entrance Processing Stations Practice Test

MEPS Drug and Alcohol Testing 3