Published: 08/01/2024By: Toby Jacob
Taking a drug test can be a stressful process, even if you do not regularly use recreational drugs. However, drug tests are an important screening process, and these tests are a necessary procedure for individuals across a variety of careers.
If you are wondering about drug tests, you may be confused about the types of drug tests out there. Our article tells you about the most common types of drug tests you might be asked to take, in addition to important information about when drug tests may be requested of you.
Why Are Drug Tests Administered?
Drug tests are administered for a few different reasons, though they are most commonly seen as part of the employment and applicant screening process. Drug tests are administered because they help employers or other individuals ensure that an applicant is well-suited for a certain position or opportunity, and they help to make sure that an individual will not pose a threat to themselves or others.
Other reasons for drug tests include legal drug testing, drug testing for athletes, drug testing for those in rehabilitation facilities, and medical diagnostic drug testing.
Common reasons why drug tests may be requested around the workplace include the following.
Pre-Employment Testing
Pre-employment tests are a common formality that many companies require before you are given an official offer to join a workplace. Sometimes, an employer will say that their offer is contingent on passing a drug test, and certain types of jobs are more likely to require pre-employment testing; these fields may include government jobs, security fields, or medical careers.
Annual and Randomized Testing
Annual testing and randomized drug testing are other very common reasons why you may be requested to take a drug test. These tests are common in government workplaces or careers where you work with vulnerable populations and heavy machinery or equipment. Annual and randomized drug testing is done to ensure that employees are sticking to the drug-free standards enforced by their workplace.
Reasonable Suspicion Testing
Reasonable suspicion drug testing is generally only required when an employee shows up exhibiting signs of being under the influence of drugs. This may include smelling like drugs or alcohol, falling asleep on the job, or making errors or mistakes while working in addition to other strange behavior. These tests are often requested as a first step by an employer taking action against the individual acting strangely.
Return to Work Testing
Sometimes, when employees are injured on the job or returning to work after time spent in a rehabilitation facility, an employer might request a return to work drug test. These tests ensure the individual is free of any drugs and ready to return to work, meeting the drug-free standards that the workplace upholds.
Will Every Employer Require a Drug Test?
Not every employer will require a drug test, and those that do require drug tests must make this clear during the hiring process. In general, you can expect jobs that are high security, deal with the government, work with vulnerable populations like children or the elderly, handle heavy machinery or equipment, or those in the medical field to drug test their employees.
Other companies or employers may drug test depending on company standards, and you will need to speak with the hiring manager or an HR representative to learn more about the drug testing policies at each company.
Types of Drug Tests
The following types of drug tests are all potential options for an employer or another individual who requires drug test results to be submitted. Some of these types of tests are more common, such as urine and blood tests, and you will need to speak with an employer for details on the types of drug testing they require you to submit.
Urine Tests
The urine test is used to detect substances such as alcohol, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, opiates, cocaine, and cannabis. It is the most common type of drug testing, and the detection window for substances is up to 30 days after a substance was last used.
A urine drug test works by looking for metabolites and antigen-antibody complexes in your urine, which are byproducts of your body processing the substances and a result of your immune system releasing antibodies due to a substance in your system.
Blood Tests
A blood test is another common type of drug test, though these are more invasive. These tests may be used when urine collection is not possible, such as in emergency situations or when the individual being tested is unconscious. For example, if an individual suspected of a DUI is brought to the hospital unconscious, a blood sample to check for substances may be legally taken depending on specific state laws.
A blood drug test will take a small amount of blood from the person; when tested, it can show all alcohol and substances that the person used within a period of two to 12 hours from the sample being collected.
Hair Tests
A hair drug test is also called a follicle test, and it utilizes a strand of hair collected from someone’s head, face, or even armpit. This type of drug test can detect cumulative substance use over a longer period of time, as hair from the head will have a detection window of up to three months from the date of the last substance use. Hair from other parts of the body may even hold detection capabilities of up to a year.
Drug metabolites remain in the hair the longest, and they start appearing in the hair from around one week after the substance is first used until the hair grows out or is cut off. The most common substances that hair testing is used for are cocaine, phencyclidine (also known as PCP), amphetamines, opioids, and MDMA, and hair testing is best used for detecting continued substance use instead of low-use or single-use testing.
Oral Fluid Tests
An oral fluid test is a saliva test, and they are one of the most cost-effective methods of drug testing besides urine sample collection. The saliva sample can show substance use from a few minutes to 48 hours before collection occurs, and this test can detect substances such as cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, MDMA, opiates, and phencyclidine (PCP).
Sweat Tests
Sweat tests are not used commonly, as they are difficult to administer and complicated for both the person submitting the drug test and the person collecting it. The sweat drug test involves an absorbent pad placed on the person’s skin; this pad may be in place for around 24 hours up to two weeks, depending on the size of the pad and the substances being tested for.
The sweat drug test can detect substance use for up to 3 three months before collection, though the results take much longer to receive than with other forms of drug testing.
What Happens if I Fail a Drug Test?
If you fail a drug test, you may not be eligible for certain opportunities or types of employment. However, failing a drug test and the parameters of failure are established by each employer or company individually. In states where cannabis is legal, you may still be eligible for a job if this shows up on your drug tests, depending on specific policies and the position you are applying for.
You will need to learn more about the next steps from your employer or the person requesting your drug test to understand what failure might mean for you.
Are Drug Tests Performed With Background Checks?
Drug tests are often performed in addition to background checks, as these are both common pre-employment screening items. However, you should note that there are state and federal laws in place that ensure your consent is obtained for both drug testing and background check searches. Your employer will need to inform you of what they are looking for on a background check, and you will need to review their policies on drug testing before agreeing to both items.
If you have any questions, you can speak to a hiring manager or search drug testing and background check laws for your state to learn more specific information.
Drug Tests and Their Importance
While drug tests can be nerve-wracking, these tests are incredibly important for employers and other individuals who are in charge of hiring applicants. With a drug test, an applicant’s ability to safely perform their job or other duties can be verified, and employers can complete their due diligence to ensure safety in the workplace.
Furthermore, drug testing can be used in legal cases, as part of a procedure to ensure athletes are not using drugs, as a way to monitor the recovery of those in substance abuse recovery programs, and as a part of medical diagnostic testing and treatment. All of these instances show just how important drug tests are to ensuring the safety and proper care of all individuals.
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