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GC/MS testing is a hybrid of two technologies: the gas chromatograph and the mass spectrometer. The gas chromatograph is a device for separating a mixture of compounds according to their relative attractions to a substrate material called an adsorbent. Typically the adsorbent is silica or alumina gel lining in column inside the machine. The sample is injected into a stream of carrier gas inside the machine where it goes through the column which is heated by an oven. The separations occur on the column. The stream of compounds, now, in theory separated; pass by a detector which causes a signal to be emitted. This signal is usually picked by and electro-mechanical device to record it. It's important to understand that what are recorded are the relative retention times of the compounds on the column in the machine.
After separation on the column in the GC, the materials then pass through to the mass spectrometer. In this machine the materials are destroyed in the presence of a strong magnetic field. Fragments of the materials are then analyzed according to their molecular weight. The results are compared against databases which are built on the statistical likelihood of particular compounds to fragment in specific ways.
GC/MS testing is considered the GOLD method of drug testing and is used nationwide for all different kinds of testing like: drugs of abuse, blood, serum, saliva, urine and even solid compounds.
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