Drug testing has become a requirement in a number of industries. This can be attributed to increased awareness of the dangers posed by different types of drugs in the society. In the workplace, drug use increases employee turnover reduces their productivity and increases medical costs for the employer. In the transportation, manufacturing and construction industries, drug use makes the workplace incredibly dangerous. It also lowers the quality of products or services offered by firms. That is why most employers have a zero-tolerance policy against drug use at the workplace
Types of Drug Tests
Drug tests can be conducted routinely as part of the annual drug testing policy of the organization. Secondly, a drug test can be done as part of pre-employment screening for job applicants before an interview. Employers or industry regulators can also conduct random drug tests to weed out employees who may be operating under the influence of a drug.
Drug Testing Methods
i) Urine Drug Testing
This is without a doubt the most popular drug testing technique used today. It is highly accurate as toxins are usually eliminated from the body through the urine, so a urine sample can show all the different types of drugs or toxins a person might have been exposed to. All a person needs to do is pee in a cup, and offer the sample for testing. The only way to cheat a urine drug test is to provide a fake sample. By mixing water and synthetic urine, a person can provide fake urine instead of their own urine as the sample for testing. At times, a fake urinator may be needed to dispense the fake urine sample.
ii) Blood Drug Testing
If you are under the influence of any type of drug, a blood sample will show exactly what you are operating under. To obtain the blood sample, a phlebotomist will be required. That said, blood drug testing is not as popular as urine drug testing.
iii) Saliva Drug Testing
If you have drugs in your bloodstream, your saliva and other fluids from your body will contain traces of that drug. Therefore, a saliva sample can be tested to determine whether or not you have recently used banned substances.
iv) Hair Follicle Drug Testing
As hair grows, the follicles may absorb traces of drugs or toxins. Even after quitting a certain drug, a hair follicle drug test will still show that you have previously used a banned substance. To pass a hair follicle drug test, therefore, consider trimming your hair and wash your head with a hair detoxification shampoo at least twice every day.