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A drug test is commonly a technical examination to determine the presence or absence of specified drugs or their metabolized traces. According to the Chicago land Chamber of Commerce, “Over 70% of all illicit drug users are employed. Small and medium-sized firms employ 80% of the U.S. workforce where drug testing policies & programs are not in place. Absenteeism, increased health care costs and decreased productivity due to alcohol and other substance abuse cost a company $1,000 per employee per year.” It gives the importance of drug testing at work place.
Primarily there are five methods of drug testing. Those are
. Urine drug testing: Urine drug test is the most common, inexpensive, simple and easy to administer. Urine drug tests are reliable and can be tested individually and at other places.
. Blood drug testing: Blood testing is one of the most accurate drug testing but intrusive and expensive.
. Hair drug testing: When used in right time hair testing gives more accurate results and it is most expensive drug testing.
. Saliva drug testing: Oral drug testing is the simplest form of drug testing, which is increasingly used, as it is the least intrusive test procedure.
. Sweat drug testing: Sweat tests are patches attached to the skin to collect sweat over a long period of time (10–14 days).
Drug testing, and particularly random drug testing is not allowed in every state in the United States. There are certain guidelines mentioned by The Federal Drug-Free Work Place Act of 1988. Following guidelines give the minimum requirements.
. Publish a policy statement prohibiting unlawful use, possession, manufacture, or distribution of controlled substances in the workplace;
. Notify employees of said prohibition and the penalty for violating it;
. Establish a drug-free awareness program;
. Provide employees engaged in a contract with a copy of the policy statement;
. Notify employees that compliance with the policy statement is a condition of employment;
. Require (in writing in your policy) employees to notify the employer within five
. Days if they are convicted of a criminal drug statute violation occurring in the workplace;
. Make a good-faith effort to maintain a drug-free workplace through these provisions.
In 2004 SAMHSA proposed a new rule that would allow federal agencies to use sweat, saliva and hair in federal drug testing programs that now only test urine. The proposal would also allow selected specimen testing at the time and place it is collected.
Drug testing has an important role in safety-critical and other occupations where the public is entitled to expect the highest standards of safety and probity. In order to make the workforce free from drug use at work places several new methods are in line under the rules proposed by SAMHSA that are unintrusive, inescapable and yield accurate results.
Posts Tagged ‘Urine Drug Testing’
Drug Testing Methods at Work Place
Posted in drug test hair 
Tags: Absenteeism, Accurate Results, Chicago Land, Test Procedure, Urine Drug TestingDrug Testing In A Nutshell
For people who want to have a loved one undergo drug testing or for anyone who just wants to (or has to) go through it, here are some highly important points to take note of. First of all, however, it really is high time for people all across the United States, even the entire world, to put greater importance on the life threatening risks involved when it comes to drugs and substance abuse.
1. Testing: What Works?
As compared to having a drug testing by taking samples of the patient’s blood, it is highly recommended that the medical technician use the patient’s urine. The urine has been proven to be more reliable when it comes to the detection of any drug abuse. Unfortunately, it also a more expensive kind of drug testing. As an added benefit, it is also gives the clearest results; it is very easy for medical technicians to see whether or not a person has taken drugs into one’s system.
One downside of drug testing using urine samples is that it is impossible to accurately say when the patient took the drug. Blood testing is more accurate and this associated information can be derived from a blood sample.
2. Future Techniques: Hair Sampling
Another drug testing technique is through hair testing which is not recommended because a lot of laboratories are finding some difficulty with regards to the reliability of the results especially, as most often than not, drug testing through the hair poses positive results for the patient. A lot of people don’t buy into this kind of drug testing since with the simple act of washing one’s hair as well as being subjected to other hair contaminants an incorrect reading is possible.
3. Problems With Drug Testing:
- Confirming the reliability of the testing – Questionable accuracy of hair testing results – Urine drug testing accuracy highly dependent on how the procedure has been carried out by the medical technician
Unfortunately, most especially during this time wherein more and more people are getting lured into doing drugs as well as other substance abuse, a lot of the clinics that are conducting drug testing all over the United States are not really capable of providing the reliable results that people need due to the rampant mishandling and as well as the improper ways that some clinics conduct their drug testings. Therefore, the top three most reliable aspects that people should need to look for in a drug test for it be considered as reliable: strict collection procedures, proper testing procedures and random notification.
Posted in drug test hair Tags: Blood Testing, Drugs, Entire World, Urine Drug Testing, Urine SamplesHair Drug Testing: Accurate and Effective
Many companies require a drug test when hiring a new employee. They may require it instead of or alongside of a background check. This ensures companies that they are getting an employee that is reliable. However, while most utilize urine drug testing, many have not caught on to the effective and accurate method of hair drug testing that would provide them a much better view of an individual.
The bottom line is that the traditional forms of drug testing are not going to provide information on a very long period of time. For example, with urine most drugs are only detectable for a few days after their use. While there are some drugs that may be detected past this time frame, it is possible that the drug would pass out of the body quickly and be undetected by the test. While many companies combat this by having employees take the test within 24 or 48 hours it is still not foolproof. In comparison, a hair drug test is going to provide a 90 day history of the applicant’s drug habits. This can be tested with 1.5 inches of hair.
It is amazing that the hairs on our head hold so much information. While head hair is preferable, it is even possible for hair on other areas of the body to be used. It is remarkable that this information is simply hidden inside the follicles of our hair and can be pulled out at any time.
A hair drug test screens for the same drugs that a urine test screens for. When the lab tests for drugs through this method they would typically remove about 40-50 strands. This may seem like a lot but it is really a small amount of hair. I’m sure it will grow back quickly!
The great thing about using a hair drug test is that it could be potentially used in random drug pools to be a more accurate indication of an individual’s drug use, especially when a company or position has a strict anti-drug policy. Generally speaking random drug pools are used in very safety sensitive positions and other positions that require people to be in tip top condition at all times. By utilizing this type of test they are going to get more accurate results that will potentially help keep more individuals off drugs and weed out those individuals that are getting away with using on the job.
Drug testing accuracy is really based on the technology that is used for the test. It is also dependent upon the skills of the organization you use for processing the drug screens. This makes it very important to research and understand the company you are utilizing for your drug screening procedures. Further, proper handling of all samples is very important as is the processing of the samples. Work with a well-known and professional company to achieve the best results. Often times the nature of the drugs themselves will sway the results as the chemical nature varies widely for each drug.
As companies look for ways to hire the best employees they may start to have stricter standards when it comes to background check procedures and drug screens. Perhaps hair drug testing will be the new way to go. Perhaps we can say goodbye to the little cup we think of so fondly when we enter our local drug testing facility and say hello to a nice new pair of shears. Only time will tell.
Posted in drug test hair Tags: Drug Habits, Follicles, Hair Drug Testing, Lab Tests, Urine Drug TestingWhy to Choose Instant Drug Testing Kits
Instant drug testing kits are used to get accurate and instant results with less cost. Instant drug testing kits are very simple and easy to perform. Even an individual can perform the test independently. They deliver accurate results instantly at any place. A single drug testing kit can be used to perform multiple drug tests. There are wide varieties of testing methods in instant drug tests.
Reasons to choose instant drug test:
Instant drug testing kit is preferred by different sections of users because it is very accurate, easy to perform, available in wide methods and can be used at any place and at any time. The following are the main reasons to choose instant drug testing kits.
• Quick and accurate:
Earlier, drug tests were done only in laboratories, which was a costly and lengthy process. But with the help of instant drug testing kits one can perform the tests instantly and get accurate results. Instant drug testing kits are suitable to both institutional and individual users, as they are quick and accurate unlike the earlier testing methods.
• Ease of use:
Instant drug testing kits are simple and easy to perform. An individual can perform the test by himself even for the first time without others help. As it is an instant process, one can go through this drug testing at any place according to their conveniences.
• Wide varieties of drug tests:
Wide varieties of instant drug testing kits are available like single to multiple drug testing. This means, a single test kit is used to test between one to ten drugs at a time. There are also many drug testing types like urine drug testing, oral drug testing, hair follicle drug testing etc. One can select the test depending upon their requirement.
• Suitable for different sections of users:
Drug testing kits can be used at different places like organizations, schools, sports etc. It is preferred in organizations because, an employee will not have time to go to the drug testing center to perform the test one day and collect the results the other day, moreover it is also a costly process. So in order to overcome this, people at any place can use instant drug testing kits for instant results.
Instant drug testing kits are helpful to both institutions and individuals as well. If you are from an institution or an individual, this information will be helpful to you in knowing about instant drug testing kit.
Posted in drug test hair Tags: Conveniences, Drug Testing Hair Follicle, Drug Tests, Test Kit, Urine Drug TestingThe Advantages and Disadvantages of Urine Drug Testing
Urine drug testing is the most commonly used and federally mandated method of drug testing. Urine drug testing is used both as on-site tests and for laboratory analysis. It is said to be one of the most economical drug testing method with lower maintenance cost, yet often said to be with lower effectiveness.
Pros and Cons of Urine Drug Testing
As in the case of all other drug-testing methods, urine drug testing also has some advantages and disadvantages. It is also one of the most controversial methods of drug testing. Inexpensiveness, easy to perform, and providing reliable results are some of the advantages of urine drug testing. High levels of invasiveness and high potential of adulteration are some disadvantages. The following are some advantages and disadvantages of urine drug testing in detail.
Advantages of urine drug testing:
Urinalysis is one of the economical methods available to test people for drug abuse. Its least expensiveness made it popular with various organizations. Urine drug testing can detect the abuse of more than five to twelve drugs at a time. The drugs, which can be detected using urinalysis, include cocaine, amphetamines, heroin, morphine, benzodiazepines, alcohol, hydromorphone, tetrahydrocannabinol, propoxyphene, methadone, codeine, and barbiturates.
Disadvantages of urine drug testing:
The specimen collection process is the controversy and it is the major disadvantage of urine drug testing. Collecting specimen in urinalysis is highly invasive. Since, it is not feasible to collect specimen under reliable supervision, there is high possibility of specimen tampering. Other tampering methods include drinking excess water and using some adulterants like chlorine bleach, liquid drain cleaner, white vinegar, glutaraldehyde, etc.
There are many commercial products available in the market, which have potential to flush illicit substance out of the body and thus tamper the drug testing results easily. Urinalysis cannot be used to detect immediate drug abuse. It requires some time for the drug to be ingested into the body.
Urine drug testing is the affordable and suitable method for random drug testing at home and organizations and is easy to execute. Though there are some cons in urinalysis, it is still the classic drug testing method.
Posted in home drug test Tags: Chlorine Bleach, Excess Water, Hydromorphone, Maintenance Cost, Urine Drug Testing