Workplace accidents are primarily caused by drug or alcohol use, according to the US Department of Labor. 65% of all accidents on-site happen due to substance abuse.
With implications beyond just the substance user, hazards and dangerous accidents at work happen because of drug or alcohol use. There is great risk for co-workers, employers, consumers, and partners as well.
To create an accident-free zone that’s focused on safety, you have to think about implementing a drug testing policy. Screening employees for drugs has become a matter of life or death.
In this article, we will discuss the best type of test for your company. This information could save a life at some point.
Which Substances Drug Tests Screen For
When choosing the best pre-employment drug test for your organization, it’s important to start by learning about the most common substances to test.
Here is a list of the basic 5 illegal drugs that a standard drug test kit screens for:
- Amphetamines: AMP
- Cocaine: COC
- Opiates: OPI
- Marijuana: THC
- Phencyclidine: PCP
There are a lot of different drug tests on the market. Most of them can screen for these substances, and others.
The most common types of drug tests are urine, saliva, and hair tests. Hair tests are the most unpopular, because they take a long time and are very expensive. They’re just not that practical for most companies.
Urine and saliva tests are the most affordable and popular for employers.
Urine Drug Test Kits
There are different types of urine tests. Rapid urine drug tests can provide quick results. They’re available in the form of cups or dipsticks. Drug test cups need to be filled with urine, and the results will show up on the attached strips. Dipsticks need to be physically dipped in the urine sample.
If a urine sample comes back positive, then a different type of drug screening is required. This type of test is called a mass spectrometry, and it takes place in a laboratory setting. It’s more expensive and takes time, but comes back with the most precise results.
When a urine test is negative, then there is no need for the lab follow-up. Rapid drug tests can be up to 99% accurate.
Among employers, urine drug test kits are the most popular.
Saliva Drug Test Kits
Saliva drug tests are non-invasive, and could be useful in specific cases. They’re also referred to as oral fluid and mouth swab tests. These come in the form of dip cards.
A trained medical professional collects a specimen from the inside of a patient’s cheek using a Q-tip or a swab.
However, saliva drug tests have their limitations. They may be more expensive per test than urine drug tests. Only a small percentage of employers use them, but this number is growing.
Urine VS Saliva Drug Screening
A saliva drug test works best to detect drug abuse that’s happened more recently. These mouth swab tests should be used for identifying drug use on the same day. They usually have a window of 5-48 hours.
These tests can’t detect long term drug abuse. This is where urine tests come in. They should be used because they have a longer detection window and can screen for a wider range of substances.
When you don’t know what to choose, then pick the most commonly used test. Urine drug screening is the most popular test. Urine tests are used by 90% of employers, while saliva tests are only used by 10% of employers.
Within the urine drug test spectrum, 5-panel and 12-panel drug tests are the most popular. They screen for the most common 5 substances, and the latter can detect seven more drugs of abuse.
Drug Test Cups for Employment
Now you know drug testing options and can select the right kind of drug test kit for your organization. Opting for both urine and saliva tests could be a great way to be prepared for any situation. Most employers stick to the urine-based drug testing.
DrugTestKitUSA is a reliable drug test kit provider since 2016. You can create a safe and drug-free work environment using the most convenient and affordable urine tests on the market- the drug test cups. These cups are accurate, affordable and easy to use. Feel free to browse the vast selection of drug test cups on their website.