Definition - What does Binding mean?
Binding, within the context of drug testing, is the process by which many drug tests indicated the presence of controlled substances. Binding is the process of chemically joining molecules or atoms. During the binding process, a chemical agent or additive is used to lock, or bind, molecules together in a cohesive mass.
SureHire explains Binding
In chemistry, binding a substance means to combine it with another substance. Often this binding is achieved by the formation of chemical bonds between molecules. For instance, an enzyme may bind to its substrate. In drug testing, specific antibodies are introduced to either blood or urine samples. If the targeted drugs are present in the sample, these antibodies will bind to them, allowing for their detection. When an immunoassay drug test is performed, a test specimen of urine or blood is introduced to a binding agent: the antibody. If the subject drug or drug metabolites are present in the sample, they will attach to binding sites on these specific antibodies. Test results are interpreted based on the presence and number of binding sites created by the interaction of the drugs with the antibodies.
