By Modupe Gbadeyanka

An Ibadan-based herbal company, Ar-Rahmon Khabul Herbal Nigeria Limited, has been sealed by the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority (OYRLEA).

The state government, in a statement signed on Friday by the Commissioner for Information, Mr Dotun Oyelade, revealed that the herbal firm was shut down due to environmental violations and public health concerns.

The leader of OYRLEA, Mrs Aderonke Aderemi, explained that the action was taken after multiple petitions from residents alleging persistent offensive odour and health challenges linked to the company’s operations.

She noted that the state government swung into action “to protect public health, preserve environmental standards, and enforce regulatory compliance across the state.”

It was gathered that investigations identified tobacco leaf as a major component in its production process, generating a strong, putrid odour deemed hazardous to residents and capable of posing serious health risks to the surrounding community.

“Joint inspections by officials revealed that the company operates a herbal production facility within a densely populated residential area, in clear violation of environmental and public health standards,” the statement said, adding that further findings from the inspection include the emission of harmful and toxic gaseous substances into the atmosphere, the discharge of wastewater into a nearby community water body, the installation of a chimney deemed too short and directly facing residential buildings, and the accumulation of solid waste within the premises despite claims of engaging a waste contractor, among others.

Prior to the enforcement action, the agency had issued an abatement notice directing the company to cease operations and relocate within 21 days in accordance with the Oyo State Environmental, Sanitation and Waste Control Regulations.

OYRLEA, along with the agencies that carried out the enforcement, reiterates that air pollution, hazardous waste discharge, and improper waste management are violations of environmental laws.

Mrs Aderemi reaffirmed OYRLEA’s commitment to sustained monitoring and enforcement to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all residents.

By Bon Peters

The Port Harcourt Area I Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over pharmaceutical products intercepted at the Omagwa International Airport recently to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The spokesman for the command, Mr Barilule Aanee, an Assistant Superintendent of Customs 1, said in a statement that the items were given to NAFDAC on February 12, 2026, at the NAHCO Shed of the airport, where the seizure occurred.

The Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku, disclosed that the interception was made during routine examination and intelligence-driven scrutiny at the NAHCO Shed by officers of the Command in collaboration with relevant agencies.

She disclosed that six packages of pharmaceutical products, including Menotrophin 150 IU injections, Progesterone, and Isifrane, as well as three packages of medicaments containing Tramadol Ratiopharm injections, were discovered in two separate consignments.

The products, according to the statement, were neither properly declared nor accompanied by the mandatory NAFDAC certification required for lawful importation into Nigeria.

The Customs Area 1 chief further revealed that one shipment, originating under the name Zecho Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited for Elite Health Pharmacy Ltd, with Airway Bill No. 020 34858250, weighing 135 kilograms and amounting to 4,300 units, transported by Lufthansa Cargo Airline, was among the seized products.

More so, another consignment on Allied Airway Bill No. 574 34543283 from Amsterdam was falsely declared as spare parts.

She emphasised that regardless of the importer or volume involved, “no pharmaceutical product is permitted entry into Nigeria without proper declaration and regulatory clearance from NAFDAC.”

Comptroller Atuluku commended the diligence of the Customs Intelligence Unit and all officers involved, stressing that sustained interagency cooperation remained vital to strengthening enforcement and preserving the integrity of the nation’s supply chain.

While receiving the items, the Deputy Director of the NAFDAC Port Inspection Directorate, Pharm. Adepoju Bayo Raufu, thanked the customs for its vigilance and prompt handover of the intercepted items.

He assured that the agency would subject the items to appropriate regulatory procedures in line with its mandate to safeguard public health.

In safety-sensitive workplaces, clinical settings, and staffing operations, reliable on-site drug screening is a practical first line of defense. Accurate multi-panel drug test cups for professionals combine speed with portability, allowing organizations to screen for multiple substances quickly while preserving chain-of-custody and sample integrity. This guide explains how these cups work, how to choose the right product for a professional setting, and how to manage administration, interpretation, and compliance to reduce legal risk and costly false positives.

What Multi-Panel Drug Test Cups Are And Who Should Use Them

Multi-panel drug test cups are self-contained immunoassay devices that screen a urine sample for multiple drug classes simultaneously, typically including amphetamines, cocaine metabolites, opioids, cannabinoids (THC), benzodiazepines, and others depending on the panel. They are designed for point-of-care use: a donor provides a urine specimen directly into the cup, and the integrated test strips produce rapid visual results within minutes.

Who should use them? Professionals that benefit most include:

• Occupational health and human resources teams conducting pre-employment, post-incident, or random testing programs.
• Substance use clinicians and treatment centers performing routine monitoring.
• Staffing firms and temp agencies that need quick screening before placement.
• Corrections and probation officers performing supervision checks.
• Employers in transportation, construction, healthcare, and manufacturing where safety is critical.

For organizations prioritizing both speed and defensibility, multi-panel cups offer a pragmatic balance: they provide immediate screening to inform next steps while still allowing for confirmatory laboratory testing when required.

How Multi-Panel Test Cups Work: Technology And Accuracy Factors

At their core, most multi-panel cups use lateral flow immunoassay technology. Antibodies embedded on test strips bind to drug metabolites in the specimen: a visible line forms (or disappears) according to the assay design, indicating a negative or presumptive positive.

Key accuracy factors to understand:

• Antibody specificity and cross-reactivity: High-quality assays use antibodies selected to minimize cross-reactivity with over-the-counter medications or endogenous compounds. Lower-grade tests may yield false positives when donors take legal medications that share similar metabolites.
• Cutoff concentrations: Each assay has a cutoff (measured in ng/mL) that determines whether a result is reported as positive. Most professional cups follow SAMHSA or DOT cutoffs for workplace testing: knowing these thresholds reduces misinterpretation.
• Temperature and matrix checks: Modern cups often integrate temperature strips and creatinine/oxidant checks to detect dilution or tampering. These integrity features improve the reliability of on-site results.
• Operator influence: Proper collection, timing, and result reading windows directly affect accuracy. Even the best cup can produce incorrect readings if the test is read too early or too late.

Real-world accuracy is often expressed in sensitivity (ability to detect positives) and specificity (ability to rule out negatives). Professional cups from reputable manufacturers typically report >95% agreement with laboratory immunoassays at the stated cutoffs, though confirmatory GC-MS or LC-MS/MS remains the gold standard for legal or employment consequences.

Choosing The Right Cup For Professional Settings

Selecting the appropriate multi-panel drug test cup requires more than picking a high panel count. It’s about matching features to use case, workflow, and legal requirements.

Key Selection Criteria

• Regulatory alignment: Choose cups that adhere to SAMHSA/DOT cutoffs if testing falls under federal guidelines.
• Built-in integrity checks: Temperature, adulteration, and creatinine tests help detect tampering or dilution at collection.
• Ease of use: Simple, unambiguous results and clear timing windows reduce operator error and training burden.
• Documentation options: Cups that help clear labeling, lot tracking, and photo documentation streamline chain-of-custody.
• Shelf life and storage needs: Longer shelf life and uncomplicated storage conditions simplify inventory management.

Panel Selection: Which Drugs To Include

Common professional panels are 5-, 8-, or 12-panel cups. Decisions should be risk-based:

• 5-panel: Standard workplace screens (AMP, COC, OPI, THC, BZO).
• 8–12 panel: Add methamphetamine, oxycodone, fentanyl, barbiturates, PCP, and others where clinical or workplace exposure warrants it.

Staffing and healthcare employers often opt for expanded panels that include fentanyl and synthetic opioids given their prevalence.

Sensitivity, Cutoffs, And False Positives

Higher sensitivity isn’t always better: it may detect clinically irrelevant low levels or passive exposure. Professional programs typically use established cutoffs to balance sensitivity and specificity. When a presumptive positive appears, organizations must have a policy for confirmatory testing rather than making employment decisions on a single cup result.

Adulteration Detection And Integrity Features

Buy cups with built-in tamper indicators: temperature strips (correct collection window), creatinine or pH checks, and oxidant detection. These features lower the likelihood of undetected sample manipulation and strengthen the defensibility of the screening process.

Best Practices For Collection And Administration

Accurate results start with consistent collection procedures and well-trained staff.

Chain Of Custody And Documentation

Maintain an unbroken chain of custody: donor identification, time-stamped collection, witness signatures, and secure transport for confirmatory samples. Use standardized forms and consider photo documentation or barcode systems that tie cups to donor records. This reduces disputes and protects both employer and donor.

Proper Sample Collection And Handling Steps

• Verify donor identity and inspect the collection area for prohibited items.
• Instruct the donor to provide an adequate volume into the cup: record temperature immediately.
• Observe, where policy and law permit, to prevent substitution.
• Seal and label samples promptly if they will be sent for confirmatory testing.
• Adhere to manufacturers’ timing for reading results: most cups specify a 5–10 minute window.

Training Staff And Reducing Human Error

Regular staff training on procedure, result interpretation, and documentation reduces mistakes. Provide quick-reference guides, role-play common scenarios, and audit collections periodically to ensure compliance.

Interpreting Results And When To Confirm

On-site cups deliver presumptive results, actionable only within a clear policy framework.

Reading Immunoassay Results Correctly

Most cups use a two-line format: a control line indicating the test is valid, and a test line indicating a negative or positive depending on the device. A faint test line usually indicates a negative result at or above the cutoff: no test line indicates a presumptive positive. Staff should follow the manufacturer’s visual guide and timing strictly. Photographing results can help document ambiguous cases.

Confirmatory Testing: When And How To Send Samples

Any presumptive positive that could have employment consequences should be sent to a certified laboratory for confirmatory testing using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). It’s best practice to split or retain an aliquot during collection for immediate confirmatory shipment if required. Establish relationships with accredited labs and clarify reporting timeframes, cutoff standards, and evidence handling procedures.

Legal, Regulatory, And Privacy Considerations

Testing programs operate in a regulated and privacy-sensitive environment: mishandling can result in litigation or regulatory penalties.

Compliance With Workplace Testing Regulations

Understand federal, state, and industry-specific regulations that apply to the organization. Transportation and DOT-regulated employees face stricter protocols, specific cutoffs, and certified collector requirements. Non-DOT employers still should align policies with best practices to maintain defensibility.

Recordkeeping, Privacy, And Liability Best Practices

Limit access to test results to authorized personnel, store records securely, and retain documentation according to legal retention requirements. Clear written policies that explain testing rationale, disciplinary procedures, and the appeals process help mitigate liability. Include provisions for reasonable accommodations and medical review officers (MROs) who assess legitimate medical explanations for positive results.

Storage, Shelf Life, And Vendor Reliability

Purchasing decisions affect accuracy and supply-chain resilience.

Storage Conditions, Expiry, And Inventory Management

Store cups per manufacturer recommendations, usually at controlled room temperature away from direct sunlight. Track lot numbers and expiration dates in inventory systems and rotate stock using FIFO principles. Expired tests can degrade antibody performance and increase error rates.

Evaluating Suppliers And Quality Assurance Practices

Work with suppliers that provide lot-level COAs (Certificates of Analysis), recall notifications, and prompt customer support. Vet vendors for ISO or other quality certifications, clear warranty policies, and responsiveness to post-sale technical questions. For agencies that manage testing programs for clients, documented supplier reliability reduces operational risk and preserves client trust.

Conclusion

Accurate multi-panel drug test cups for professionals are a practical tool when used within a rigorously designed program: choose products that match regulatory requirements, incorporate integrity checks, and come from reliable vendors. Combine those choices with standardized collection procedures, trained staff, and clear confirmatory pathways to reduce false positives and legal exposure.

For agencies and businesses that support client organizations, whether staffing firms or occupational health providers, investing in the right cups and operational controls pays off in defensible screening results and smoother downstream workflows. When testing has real consequences, a presumptive result from a quality cup should be the beginning of a controlled process, not the final word.