A Useful Guide To Understanding How Drug Tests Work
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By PAGE Editor
Whether you're going through mandatory drug testing at your place of employment or a person you care for is battling addiction and you want to support them, understanding how drug tests work is important.
Because there's a lot of stigma around addiction and drug use in general, drug tests can sometimes seem like a scary thing. However, knowing a few key things about how they work can put you a bit more at ease about what you're going through.
1. Types Of Drug Tests
There are different types of drug tests, and they work in different ways. The two main categories are the tests you can do at home, and those done in a lab. Home drug-test kits consist out of a testing device, instructions for use, and possibly other materials like gloves to protect you from any possible cross-contamination. Typically the result will be ready in about 10 minutes or less. The most popular one among them is the saliva drug test since it's completely non-invasive and can be done at any place and time.
A urine test is also pretty common, although it does require more privacy for obvious reasons. A blood test and a hair sample test can be done in a lab - the person being tested provides a sample and then wait for the results. Each of these tests come with their own sets of pros and cons and are perfectly suited for different situations. For example, a part of a rehab process could be to test the addicted person from time to time, and having something as simple as a saliva test is a great option. On the other hand, a lab-done blood test is best for presenting evidence in court.
2. Test Sensitivity And Results
How sensitive the test is will depend on a lot of factors. For starters, different subxkstances remain in your urine, saliva, or hair for different amounts of time. That's why the tests are usually done in short time intervals to be more accurate. Another factor is the frequency and amount of substance abuse - a person that tried weed a few weeks back will have a lower concentration of THC in his system than someone who abuses it every day. And obviously, the more expensive the test, the greater are its accuracy and sensitivity.
However, certain diets can interfere with the results as well. For example, a person that drinks a lot of milk might not test positive for THC even though they used it. Nowadays most tests can rapidly detect multiple substances at once. If you want to test someone for a particular drug, it's important to check beforehand what kinds of substances a particular test can detect. Learning the proper terminology is also important since the test probably isn't going to have jargon like "weed", or "speed" on it, but "THC" or "amphetamines" instead.
3. False Positives And Negatives
Although drug tests are pretty accurate most of the time, sometimes they do produce false negatives or false positives. There are certain substances that can skew the results like poppy seeds (which contain opiates) and some kinds of nasal sprays (that can cause false positives). Any of these can affect the margins, but each test has its own cutoff levels so you can usually tell if it's on the low edge. It's also important to keep in mind that some medications can cause your system to produce positive results even though you haven't taken them. This is why you should always let the person testing you know if you take any drugs, supplements, or medication. If you've turned out positive on a home test even though you're not using any illegal substances, asking your employer to double-check by doing a blood test in a lab will usually clear up any doubts.
4. Drug Testing Programs
Depending on why someone is taking the drug test, there are different ways to administer it. Some of the common ways include
Random testing - as already mentioned, this is usually a way to ensure a person going through rehab is staying clean. A random date is simply picked for them to come in and take the test, no matter if it's their first time doing it or they've already tested negative before.
Targeted testing - this approach is usually reserved for sports organizations and events. They will test certain people at their own discretion, such as competitors who are about to represent the country in an international competition.
Post-accident testing - after a car accident, if there's cause to believe a driver was under the influence, it's pretty common to do a drug test and see if it matches. This test is usually administered right at the hospital.
Pre-employment testing - as the name suggests, some companies have a firm policy that all new hires must first prove they're drug-free. This usually involves giving samples before signing the final contract, but it's up to the employer which way to do it.
Even though there are many different tests, generally speaking, they all follow the same patterns. A sample is taken and tested for any of the hundreds of drugs out there. It's important to keep in mind that some substances stay in your system longer than others - this means false negatives or positives can occur depending on when you're tested. That said home drug tests are an incredibly useful tool, but if you're ever unsure about your results, asking for a retest might be the best thing to do.
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