Did you know GroupOne Background Screening offers drug screenings? Well, now you do! Here’s our annual look at our drug screening services, a sort of “101” if you will.
A drug screen or drug test is the collection and analysis of urine, blood, hair or saliva to evaluate for the presence of chemicals and contaminants left behind in the body after drug use. Many different types of drug screens exist.
Urine Drug Screen
The Urine Drug Screen is the most popular test performed today, in part due to their low cost and easy collection process, with around 90% of employers preferring them. The specimen collection usually happens at a clinic, and the sample is then sent to a lab for processing. Depending on the type of panel used – a 5-panel or 10-panel urine test – the specimen will be evaluated for a set of prescription drugs and illegal substances.
For employee drug screening – whether pre-employment, random drug testing or cases of reasonable suspicion – the 5-panel drug test is most often used by employers.
The 5-panel urine drug test screens for:
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- Amphetamines
- THC (cannabis, cannabinoids)
- Cocaine
- Opioids
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
The comprehensive 10-panel urine drug test can detect:
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- Amphetamines
- THC (cannabis, cannabinoids)
- Cocaine
- Opioids
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
- Barbiturates
- Benzodiazepines
- Methaqualone
- Methadone
- Propoxyphene
Saliva Drug Screen
The Saliva Drug Screen uses a less invasive process involving a mouth swab, which may be self-performed under clinical supervision. The detection period for saliva is shorter than those associated with other specimen types. The window of detection for THC can be as short as 48 hours, whereas THC may show up in urine, hair and other samples weeks or even months after use. This offers an opportunity for employers to differentiate between on-the-job substance use and prior use with saliva testing, a bonus in states where drugs like cannabis have been legalized.
Blood Drug Screen
A Blood Drug Screen is the least popular method due to its invasive nature, shorter detection window, and higher price tag. Similar to Saliva Drug Screens, blood tests can be useful for detecting impairment and substance use on the job, as toxins can show up in the blood within minutes after use. Blood testing is also capable of measuring the amount of an illegal substance in a person’s system, helping employers or law enforcement to understand their level of impairment.
Hair Drug Testing
A strand of hair acts as a timeline of a person’s substance intake history. Someone could have used marijuana months ago, yet through hair testing, the substance would still be detectable. This is because the metabolites left behind are left in the blood, filtered through the vessels in the scalp, and remain in the hair for about 90 days. This is not a popular form of drug screening due to the high price tag, but it can act as a backup to urine testing and is the only form of test that can detect substances months after use.
Why Screen for Drugs?
In a recent study, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) found that 70% of an estimated 14.8 million illicit drug users nationwide are employed, and the National Safety Council (NSC) reports that about 9% of all employees suffer from a substance abuse disorder. With the high costs associated with employee drug use – up to $81 billion lost annually on health care, treatment and absenteeism – it pays to detect and deter drug use through employee testing.
As an employer, you play a major role in keeping your workplace safe for your employees, and drug testing is one of the most effective ways to do so.
Please do not hesitate to contact GroupOne for questions.