A drug screen, also known as a drug test, is the collection and analysis of blood, urine, hair, or saliva to determine whether or not drug use has left behind chemicals and contaminants in the body. Steroids and HGH, two performance-enhancing substances frequently used by professional athletes, can also be detected through a drug screen.
There are numerous I drug screen methods available for a variety of uses.
Urine Drug Screen
The most common type of drug screening is a urine test, which accounts for 95% of all employment drug screenings in the United States. It is popular because it is inexpensive and easy to collect. Typically, a clinic or testing facility collects the specimen, which is then sent to a lab for screening. The results for a particular set of drugs will either be false or positive, depending on the type of panel test (4-13).
In the United States, 95% of employment drug screenings include urine tests, making them the most common method. It is popular because it is inexpensive and easy to collect. Typically, a clinic or testing facility collects the specimen, which is then sent to a lab for screening. The results for a particular set of drugs will either be false or positive, depending on the type of panel test (4-13).
Some of the panels test for the following:
• 4-board drug screen – THC, cocaine, narcotics, and methamphetamine
• 5-board drug screen (generally utilized by bosses) – Amphetamines, cannabinoids, cocaine, narcotics, and phencyclidine
Extra boards can test for different substances like: benzodiazepines, barbiturates, buprenorphine, methadone, propoxyphene, methaqualone, THC, PCP, oxycodone, tricycle antidepressants, and Quaaludes.
Saliva Drug Screen
A mouth swab is used to collect saliva for this drug test, which is less invasive than other methods. However, compared to a urine drug screen test, the drug detection period is shorter. THC, for instance, can only be detected in saliva within seven to twenty-one hours. During a saliva drug test, the following substances are examined: Cocaine, marijuana, opiates, alcohol, amphetamines, methamphetamines (including ecstasy), and PCP are all prohibited substances.
Blood Drug Screening
Due to its invasiveness, limited detection window, and high cost, blood drug screening is the least widely used method of drug screening. In 2015, blood tests were only used in 6% of pre-employment drug tests. However, impairment on the job can also be detected with the help of blood tests. Dissimilar to pee, which requires a few days to show poisons, a blood test can uncover poisons in no time. Additionally, blood testing enables precise measurement of an individual’s systemic level of an illegal substance. In a blood test, the following substances are examined: benzodiazepines, cocaine and its metabolites, phencyclidine, THC, opiates, oxycodone, methadone, fentanyl, buprenorphine, propoxyphene, meperidine, tramadol, gabapentin, and carisoprodol; ethyl alcohol; amphetamines; barbiturates; benzodiazepines; cocaine and its metabolites; phen
Hair Testing
A person’s substance use history is represented by a hair strand. Cannabis could have been used months ago, but it would still be detected through hair drug testing. This is due to the fact that drug-related metabolites remain permanently within the hair follicle after being filtered through the scalp’s blood vessels. Albeit not a famous type of medication screening because of the exorbitant cost tag (running around $100 per test), it can go about as a reinforcement to pee testing in specific circumstances. The following substances were tested: barbiturates, amphetamines, opiates, cocaine, marijuana, phencyclidine, expanded opiates (oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone), and marijuana
Why Do Drug Tests?
The Word related Wellbeing and Wellbeing Organization (OSHA) directed a concentrate in 2005 that saw that as, “of the 17.2 million unlawful medication clients matured 18 or more seasoned in 2005, 12.9 million (74.8 percent) were utilized either full or parttime.” Additionally, they discovered that drug or alcohol testing is positive in 10 to 20% of workplace fatalities. Additionally, substance abusers are responsible for 40% of workplace fatalities in the industrial sector.
It is your duty as an employer to provide your employees with a safe working environment. One of the best ways to keep your workplace drug-free is by conducting random and pre-employment screenings.
Concentra is something to think about if you’re an employer looking to take the next step in safeguarding your workplace through drug screenings at work. We’ll assist you with concluding the sort of testing you really want contingent upon your industry and tweak a test for your labor force. To act against substance maltreatment in your work environment, converse with a Concentra master today.
