Korean Job Discussion Forums

dr. love · Joined: 09 Oct 2007 Location: Seoul

TBPE test is a drug test. It does not test for marijuana use and it is not a tuberculosis test.

Ut videam · Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Location: Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do

Kikomom · Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 7:26 am Post subject:

The question was begging to be asked.

hagwonnewbie · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Location: Asia

I thought the drug test was a blood test........

Are they still doing urine tests for drugs?

I guess that would make sense. I imagine that a blood test for drugs would be more expensive.

mmarshalynne · Joined: 23 May 2008

In the States, the TBPE is only used as a screening test to determine the possibility of drug use. Once a positive result had been obtained by this screening test, a second test, a GC-MS (Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) test would be required to specifically identify the exact drug that has been ingested. False positives can occur with the TPBE test, but I doubt very seriously many of the items listed above will result in a false positive. The cost of the TBPE to an institution is approximately $2. The cost of the GC-MS to the institution is probably between $100-$200. I have been out of the loop on the costs of testing for a few years and these are guesses. I don't know if hospitals in Korea have the ability to do the GC-MS, but I would assume so. The GC-MS test is considered the "gold standard" for forensic substance testing. If I tested positive, and I knew that I had not used illegal drugs, I would be trying to find a facility that could give me this test.

Jacquie · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Location: Chungnam

I also just recently failed the TBPE test. I live in a small town in Chungnam and went to Daejoen for the test. I told the first hospital that I went to about some prescription drugs I was taking. They were clueless. After the positive result came back they suggested that I go to a bigger hospital. Please note, that I did tell them about my prescription meds, then paid to have a special doctors visit before doing the test. The people here had no clue. Off I went to hospital #2. Here, a doctor called a specialist who told me that the meds would have altered the results. They told me not to take the drugs for 3 days. I did this, returned to the hospital after 4 days of not taking any meds, did the urine test, and it came back negative. Granted I was sick, nauseous and stuggled for those 3 days, but it got the job done. I was told that Eunpyeong Hospital (or something like that) in Seoul is a hospital with a better lab (I guess its more of a specialty there) and that was where they would send me if my little drug holiday didn't work. At home, none of this running around would be neccessary, but alas, we are not in Kansas anymore. I did have a Korean with me during this whole process that was able to translate, etc. for me. I would suggest that if you are unable to take a little drug holiday, then perhaps it is time to head home.

ali.eppy · Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Location: Seoul, South Korea

dr. octagon (or octagonologist?)....

how certain are you about the cannabanoids (sp?) testing?

i am working on an unexpected new visa (and job!?!?) and am regretting some recent decisions....

it would give me some peace to know what your source is...

cheers...

Illysook · Joined: 30 Jun 2008

Here in the U.S. you can go to a clinic and get a test that involves scraping the inside of your mouth to determine if you have HIV, and I hate needles. Any such option in Korea?