What Are The 5 Common Ways To Test For Drugs And Alcohol?

What Are The 5 Common Ways To Test For Drugs And Alcohol?

Alcohol and drug abuse significantly impact many aspects of society, tearing down work and personal relationships. It is one of the consequential reasons for lower productivity amongst employees, further causing the company's revenue to plummet. As per the National Safety Council, employees who are known to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol are known to become violent, sustain injuries, show up late, or show absenteeism in the workplace. Therefore, most top organizations have made drug screening a mandatory program to detect the illicit use of drugs, alcohol, or prescription drugs. 

However, depending on the type of substance abused and the requirements, drug tests can vary. These tests usually include:

Blood test

Blood testing is one of the top-notch methods to detect the specific concentration levels of alcohol in your system. Some particular blood samples represent precise levels of intoxication within 24 hours of drinking. They show drug metabolites and the actual level of drugs in your blood. Therefore, taking the assistance of a top-notch screening company can help you obtain accurate drug testing results.

Breath test

Law enforcement officers use the breath test method to screen drivers for alcohol consumption. These breathalyzers examine the exhaled breaths and water vapor to search for blood plasma alcohol concentration. Thus, it is one of the popular alcohol testing methods as it is non-invasive and convenient to carry out roadside testing. 

Hair test

Consumption of drugs leads its metabolites to enter the blood vessels in the scalp. The hair is known to filter the drugs while keeping a record of the drug use. Therefore, any person who has abused marijuana, cocaine, or other drugs in recent months can get positive test reports due to the drug residues present in the hair. Therefore, consider opting for this type of drug testing if you suspect drug usage in recent times.

Saliva test

Testing saliva is another minimally invasive method you can opt for drug testing. However, it remains effective only in testing for recent drug usage. For instance, saliva testing can only offer accurate results if the subject is known to use cannabis or any other substance within four to ten hours. 

Urine test

Urine serum test is known as one of the most typical methods used to detect drugs' illicit usage. Urine samples consist of high concentrations of parent drugs and their by-products. However, the "pee-in-a-cup" sample collection is non-invasive and does not involve the usage of needles. Moreover, these samples are less effective than the other testing methods as they have a short retrospective period.

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