Pre-Employment Drug Test: Everything You Need to Know

Urine Tests

Employers all around the world use urine tests as the most common method of pre-employment drug tests. Typically, the job offered will be conditional if the applicant passes a drug test.

The applicant will have to submit a urine sample, which will be subjected to a preliminary examination. Before the results are given to the employer, a confirmation screen will be performed at an external laboratory if the initial screen confirms the presence of a drug.

Urine tests can also be used in random testing programs for current employees and when employers have a reasonable suspicion that a worker is abusing illegal drugs.

Companies might utilise urine tests to see if an employee has recently used drugs. Urinalysis is the only approved method when it comes to the legality of employee drug testing, and both non-regulated and regulated enterprises frequently choose it.

Hair Tests

Hair tests have a long detection range and can determine drug usage up to three months in advance of the test date. However, this method can only identify past drug usage and does not detect alcohol consumption.

A lab worker obtains 100 strands of hair from an employee or candidate during a hair test by cutting the sample close to the scalp. The test would be positive if the person consumed drugs during the detection window.

Blood Screens

Certain employers use blood pre-employment drug screening to check candidates and employees for unlawful drug and alcohol use. A professional phlebotomist draws a sample of blood, which is forwarded to a lab for testing

The results will reveal the quantities and types of drugs or alcohol in the blood of the employee or candidate at the time the sample was taken. Most employers, however, do not use this because it is so intrusive.

Saliva Tests

Some businesses use saliva testing as it is considered a transparent method with little to no tampering. The candidates or employees are monitored throughout the collection process, making it more difficult to dilute or adulterate the results. Saliva can also be collected on-site at the workplace, saving both time and money.

Saliva testing can reveal recent use in as little as a few hours and as long as three days. The sample is taken from the inside of the applicant’s or employee’s mouth with a swab.

Breath Alcohol Tests

When an employer suspects that an employee is impaired by alcohol at the workplace, breath alcohol testing may be employed. Also known as breathalysers, a special device is used to display the amount of alcohol in the employee’s system at the time of the test.