What you need to know about drug testing

Approximately 1.47% of U.S. job postings mention required pre-employment drug testing and only 0.66% mention regular drug testing.

The good news is that only about 1.47% of US job postings mention mandatory pre-employment drug testing and only 0.66% mention regular drug testing. Still, most large companies, airlines and some state and federal governments continue to require testing. Here's what you need to know about drug testing.

A urine test is the most common form of pre-employment drug testing. Hair testing has a longer detection window for drug use, up to 90 days. Oral fluid testing is 100% observed, making it difficult for employees to cheat, dilute, or falsify the test. This test can also be picked up on site, reducing costs and time.

The most common type of test is a urine drug test, which looks for signs of drug abuse. The procedure is quick and painless as all you need to do is provide your urine as a sample for the test. This sample can be used to test your urine for alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines, marijuana, opioids (narcotics), PCP and benzodiazepines.

However, that's not the point, because there are also certain guidelines that protect the privacy of the person being tested. However, if you are required to take a drug test by a potential employer or for any other reason, it is important that you know what to expect from the process.

Types of Urine Drug Tests

There are two different types of urine drug tests available today. Immunoassay is the first type of test that is a low-cost drug test that provides quick results. However, there are also disadvantages to using this type of urine test. The test sometimes gives a false positive result, with the test giving a positive result for drugs even if the person is not taking drugs. This is due to drug residue remaining in the system, which can trigger drug tests in a variety of ways. In this case you must repeat the test.

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If the drug test is positive and you deny drug use, you will need to undergo a second urine drug test called gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The second test uses the same urine sample as the first test. These tests are typically more expensive and may take longer to receive test results. On the positive side, they rarely give false positives.

Take the urine test

No matter what drug you are testing for, the process for urine testing is the same as taking a drug test. Because these test kits can be used at home, you can take the test wherever you feel comfortable or most convenient, such as: B. in a doctor's office, a hospital, at work or even at your home.

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The following tests must be carried out:

• You will receive a sample cup from the person conducting the test
• You will have to leave your belongings in another room during the test. In some cases, you may need to change into a hospital gown so that you can take the test easily.
• To make sure you don't try to falsify the test results, a nurse or technician may accompany you to the bathroom.
• Before you begin, be sure to clean your genital area with the provided damp cloth.
• Begin urinating into the toilet as usual.
• When urinating, be sure to catch a sample in the middle of the stream. Do not let the cup touch your genital area.
• When finished, place a lid on the cup. Take it to the technician so it can be worked on.

Test results

Once you submit your sample, the technician or nurse will let you know when your test results will be available. With an immunoassay test, you should receive your results immediately. If your test results come back positive for illegal drugs that you have not taken, be sure to request a GC/MS test immediately.