A drug test is an effective way to tell whether or not an employee is performing to their fullest capacity. But it’s not infallible. Occasionally, some people try to fudge their results. When you know the most common ways employees try to cheat on drug tests, you can easily shut them down.
Substituting Urine
When an employee knows that there are traces of illicit substances in their system, they may search for alternate sources of urine. Dozens of websites sell dehydrated urine powder or synthetic urine they can substitute for their own. Some people even approach friends to ask for some of their urine! When your employee goes into the restroom to provide their urine sample, don’t let them bring any bags, purses, or jackets in. Make it hard for them to smuggle anything inside.
Chugging Water
Many drug tests have a cutoff point for traces of different substances. If the urine contains a high enough water content, it dilutes the sample and reduces the concentration of those substances. American Screening’s selection of drug testing cups is transparent, allowing you to see the color of that employee’s urine. When you run the test and find the sample to be too diluted, you can then ask the employee for another sample. If possible, keep an eye on the amount of liquid they consume before the test.
Adulterating the Sample
This used to be a common method many years ago—and that’s because most of the time, it worked. Nowadays, labs do microscopic tests on urine and can more easily identify common household adulterants like ammonia and vinegar. But some shady websites, often the same ones that sell synthetic urine, offer “detox” chemicals that are harder to detect. Keep an eye on your employee before they go into the restroom to give their sample. Make sure their pockets are empty and ask them to leave any bags or purses outside.
Be smart when you test your employees. Let them know that you care about them, but don’t let them try any funny business on your watch. Read up on the most common ways employees try to cheat on drug tests, and be prepared for any of these scenarios.
