Drug screening is commonly used by employers to determine the eligibility of an employee, however, it can be used in other ways as well. Urine testing is typically used because of how accurate, affordable, and reliable it is. Other options include blood work, hair testing, and nail clipping analysis. All drug and alcohol screening should be performed in a controlled setting by trained individuals to avoid any fraud or lack of integrity in the system.

Other reasons for drug screening is to check whether a patient is taking drugs. This helps the physician understand how to treat the patient and where there might be contraindications and drug interactions.

What is drug screening?

Drug screenings are usually quick and painless procedures that collect urine to test for substances. This includes some of the most common street drugs like alcohol, amphetamines, enzodiazepines, marijuana, cocaine, PCP, and opioids (narcotics). Testing for prescription drugs is becoming more common. Typically, if a prescription drug is found, you’ll need to prove that you have a valid prescription for the drug.

Although most drug screenings require a urine sample, you may also be asked to submit nail clippings, hair, blood, and saliva. These methods can often date back further than urine, providing a timeline of usage.

In fact, the hair drug test can provide up to a 90-day window of drug usage. While it does not show alcohol usage, it can indicate cocaine, marijuana, opiates, methamphetamine, and phencyclidine in the system.

Blood tests look at and measure the amount of drugs and alcohol in your system at the time the blood is drawn, while breathalyzers look specifically at alcohol.

Why drug screening?

Employers screen for drugs because prolonged drug use can lead to issues at work down the line. Despite a great resume and stellar interview, the employer wants to make sure you’re bringing as little risk as possible to their company.

Physicians also use drug screenings to diagnose any unexplainable symptoms or understand a patient’s situation better. These methods can be used by parole officers to make sure parolees aren’t violating their agreement.

Results for a screening usually take less than a week for urine analysis, and anywhere from one to two weeks for other options. If a patient is in the hospital and being screened for medical reasons, their tests will likely be accelerated to ensure proper treatment.

Drug screenings offer a more affordable solution that straight up testing, which is why most employers opt to use this is a method for selecting employees during the hiring process.

If you’re in need of a drug screening for employment visit our office. We will make sure your screening is performed discreetly and will send the results directly to your place of employment. We can usually fit these appointments in quickly and aim to make the process and simple and easy as possible for you.