Understanding the Different Types of Drug and Alcohol Testing

Drug and Alcohol Testing

Knowing about the different kinds of drug testing services can be very helpful for both the people being tested and the people giving the tests. Drug and alcohol testing usually finds certain chemicals or their breakdown products in a person’s body. Each type of test is meant to look for this kind of substance in a different part of the body.

Why Is It Important To Know About The Different Kinds Of Drug Test Screening?

People need to know about the different kinds of drug and alcohol testing so they can figure out what chemicals are being checked for and how long it takes to find them. Certain types of drug tests may be chosen by employers, medical workers, or law enforcement, depending on their needs. It’s essential to know the boundaries and limits of each type of test. 

To properly understand the results of drug and alcohol testing programs, you also need to know what drugs each test is meant to find and how likely it is that you will get a fake positive or negative. 

What Kinds Of Drug And Alcohol Testing There Are? 

Alcohol or drug tests done by a toxicology lab or another lab may be different based on the drug or substance being tested for and the samples that need to be analyzed. There are several ways for alcohol and drug test screening use in job applicants and workers. Let’s go over each one: 

Drug Testing by Urine

Even after the medication’s effects have worn off, this test indicates that the substance is still present. The detecting window can be very different for each drug, according to the drug testing companies nationwide. 

Drug and Alcohol Testing

Drug Tests with Saliva

You can get saliva or other fluids from inside the mouth with a mouth swab. You can usually tell if someone has used drugs by their breath between 5 and 48 hours, but if they are a heavy user, the drug testing can go beyond this time frame. Within 30 minutes, you can get the results. 

Drug Tests in the Blood

Blood is not usually taken for job tests. A blood test can find alcohol, methamphetamines, cocaine, opiates, marijuana, and amphetamines.  

Drug Testing of Hair Follicles

All drug testing companies nationwide believe that hair tests can often find evidence of drug use up to 90 days after the last use. Techs cut 100 strands of hair close to the head to check for drugs near the hair root. 

Drug and Alcohol Tests by Breath

This test shows how drunk someone is right now. The amount of time it takes for a breathalyzer to pick up on alcohol after consumption varies by drink and by person’s size, but it typically takes about an hour. Contact NTA TESTING to learn about reliable drug testing services for your company. 

Conclusion

There are many reasons to do a drug and alcohol testing program, such as following a court order, hiring someone for a high-risk job, or any of the many other reasons. It is essential to know the different drug testing methods with NTA TESTING and data collection types that can be used. There are pros and cons to each method, and understanding how they work will help you pick the drug testing that is best for your needs.