The Best Drug Test for Employers Testing Employees & Parents Testing Teens
How Do I Decide Which is the Best Drug Test For Me to Use?
When it comes to drug testing, there are a variety of methods available that can be used to test employees or teens at home. The choice of method will depend on several factors, including the type of drug being tested for, the level of accuracy required, the cost of the test, and the ease of use.
Here are some of the most common drug testing methods and their advantages and disadvantages:
- Urine drug test: This is the most commonly used drug test method. It is non-invasive and can detect a wide range of drugs. However, it can be subject to sample tampering, and some drugs may not show up in urine until several hours after ingestion.
- Hair drug test: This method can detect drug use over a longer period of time (up to 90 days), but it can be more expensive and may not detect drug use that occurred within the last 7-10 days.
- Saliva drug test: This method is less invasive than a urine test and can detect recent drug use. However, it may not detect drug use that occurred more than 24 hours ago.
- Breathalyzer test: This method is used to detect alcohol use but cannot detect other drugs.
When deciding which drug test is best for your specific situation, it is important to consider the factors mentioned above and read the additional information below. Additionally, it is important to ensure that the chosen method is legally permissible and ethical.
What is the best drug test for testing Employees?
The best test for testing employees depends on the specific needs and circumstances of the employer. There are several types of drug tests available, each with its advantages and disadvantages. Here are the most common drug tests used for employee testing:
- Urine drug test: This is the most common drug test used by employers as it is relatively inexpensive, non-invasive, and can detect recent drug use. However, it may not detect drug use that occurred more than a few days before the test.
- Hair drug test: This test can detect drug use for up to 90 days and is more difficult to cheat than a urine test. However, it is more expensive and takes longer to get results.
- Saliva drug test: This test is less invasive than a urine test and can detect recent drug use. However, they may not detect drug use that occurred more than a few days before the test.
Ultimately, the choice of drug test will depend on the specific needs of the employer, such as the type of drug being tested, the cost of the test, and the desired detection period. It is important to consult with a medical professional or drug testing specialist to determine the most appropriate drug test for your needs.
Dip Cards
The simplest and best drug test for testing employees is a urine Dip-card; they can detect up to twenty drugs simultaneously. The most common are five and ten-panel options. These kits are also available with a specimen validity check to determine urine integrity before drug testing; this option assures the administrator that the donor is not trying to cheat.
Features & Benefits: Long shelf life, low unit cost, 99% accuracy, easy to use, and results appear in minutes.
Cup Devices
The cup configuration has many benefits as all parts are integrated within the cup. This may well be the very best drug test for employers as they include a cup, temperature check, analysis, and an optional specimen validity check in one device. They are now available to analyze up to twenty drugs simultaneously.
Features & Benefits: The cup design is a lot cleaner to handle and less prone to mistakes. The cup is for the donor’s urine sample, the temp strip on the cup is for monitoring sample temperature, and the analysis results are read directly on the cup. An optional specimen validity check checks the urine sample’s integrity, making it more difficult for a donor to cheat. Results appear in minutes for the whole process.
Oral/Saliva Devices
Oral fluid or saliva drug testing is a method for detecting drug metabolites from saliva in the mouth. An oral test is more convenient for on-site testing, especially when no bathroom facilities are available. The best drug test for employers may well be Oral Saliva Tests. Now you can buy FDA Exempt Oral/Saliva tests for non-federal workplaces.
Features & Benefits: The analysis only takes a few minutes, and the results are almost instant. They can be used anywhere that’s appropriate for testing. And it’s difficult for the donor to defeat the analysis and cheat the test.
Identifying Drug Residue
A drug residue test detects trace amounts of illicit drugs from many sources and can positively identify their presence even when invisible. Testing the workplace for signs of drug residue is a simple process and can be used for testing surfaces, clothing, computer keyboards, bags, purses, automobiles, and more.
Features & Benefits: Results appear in seconds, detect many different narcotics drugs, are simple to use, and are easy to interpret.
What is the Best Drug Test for Parents Testing Teens?
Urine Dip Cards
Dip Cards are, by far, the most popular method of drug testing at home. Dip-card drug test kits are easy to administer in your bathroom. One device can detect up to thirteen drugs simultaneously. The most popular varieties come in 5 and 10-panels, identifying five or ten drugs simultaneously. These kits are also available with a specimen validity check; this checks the integrity of the donor’s urine sample, ensuring it was not contaminated or tampered with.
Features & Benefits: Low cost, accurate, easy to use and administer, results appear in minutes.
Urine Cups
A urine drug test cup is probably the best drug test option as it benefits from being a fully integrated drug test, negating the need for a separate cup. It also includes a urine temperature check and is available with an optional specimen validity check.
Features & Benefits: Ideal for simple, clean drug testing. Integrated cup with urine temperature check and drug analysis all in one. Accurate, easy to use, and administer with no exposure to urine. The results appear in minutes on the side of the cup.
Drug Residue Tests
Drug Residue Tests are often the first step to quickly identify drugs of abuse around the home. They can positively identify Illicit drugs from many sources before you start testing loved ones. You can use them around the house, including your teenager’s room or automobile. You can check almost any surface, clothing, plastic bags, worktops, computer keyboards, cars, etc.
Features & Benefits: Results appear in seconds; they detect and identify many different drugs and are simple to use and interpret.
How many drugs should I test for?
The number of drugs to test for in a drug test will depend on several factors, including the purpose of the test, the budget, and the level of accuracy required.
If the test is being done for employment purposes, the number of drugs to test for may depend on the industry or job position. For example, a company in the transportation industry may choose to test for a broader range of drugs, such as opioids and amphetamines, due to safety concerns.
If the test is being done for personal reasons, such as testing a teenager at home, it may be appropriate to test for a smaller range of drugs, such as marijuana or cocaine.
Typically, a standard drug test will include testing for five or six of the most commonly abused drugs, which include marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opioids, methamphetamine, and benzodiazepines.
In summary, the number of drugs to test for in a drug test will depend on the purpose of the test, budget, and level of accuracy required, but testing for the most commonly abused drugs is a good starting point.
Should I test the Urine Specimen for Adulterants before the Drug Test?
Yes, testing a urine specimen for adulterants before testing for drugs is recommended. Adulterants are substances that are added to urine to interfere with drug testing, making it difficult or impossible to detect the presence of drugs.
Common adulterants include bleach, hydrogen peroxide, and ammonia. Adulterants can also be added in the form of synthetic urine, which is designed to mimic real urine and contains no drugs.
Testing for adulterants before testing for drugs can help ensure the accuracy and validity of the drug test results. If adulterants are detected, it may be necessary to collect a new specimen and conduct a new drug test.
There are several commercially available adulterant detection tests that can be used to detect the presence of common adulterants in urine. These tests are often included in drug testing kits or can be purchased separately.
In summary, testing for adulterants before testing for drugs can help ensure the accuracy and validity of drug test results, and it is recommended to do so to minimize the risk of false-negative or false-positive results.
Can a Rapid Drug Test Detect Prescription Drugs?
It depends on the specific prescription drug and the type of rapid drug test being used.
Most rapid drug tests are designed to detect the most commonly abused drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opioids, and ecstasy. However, some rapid drug tests can also detect other prescription drugs, such as barbiturates, fentanyl, oxycodone, tramadol, benzodiazepines, and methadone.
The ability of a rapid drug test to detect prescription drugs also depends on the cutoff levels used for the test. Cutoff levels are the minimum amount of a drug that must be present in a urine sample for the test to register as positive. If the cutoff levels are set too high, the test may not detect low levels of prescription drugs.
It is important to note that not all prescription drugs are considered drugs of abuse, and testing for prescription drugs in the absence of suspicion of abuse may not be appropriate. Additionally, it is important to follow proper procedures for drug testing, including confirming positive results with a laboratory-based test.
In summary, some rapid drug tests can detect certain prescription drugs, but it depends on the specific drug and the cutoff levels used for the test. If you are concerned about a specific prescription drug, it may be necessary to use a laboratory-based test that is specifically designed to detect that drug.
How long does a drug of abuse stay in the body?
The length of time that a drug of abuse stays in the body can vary depending on the drug, the amount taken, and individual factors such as metabolism, age, weight, and overall health.
Here are some general guidelines for how long common drugs of abuse can be detected in the body:
- Alcohol: Alcohol is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and can be detected in the breath, blood, or urine for several hours after consumption. However, chronic heavy alcohol use can lead to long-term effects on the liver, brain, and other organs.
- Marijuana: THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, can be detected in urine for up to 30 days in chronic users. However, for occasional users, THC may only be detectable in urine for a few days.
- Cocaine: Cocaine is rapidly metabolized and can typically be detected in urine for 2-4 days after use. However, in chronic users, cocaine metabolites may be detectable for up to a week.
- Methamphetamine: Methamphetamine is rapidly metabolized and can be detected in urine for up to 3-5 days after use. However, in chronic users, methamphetamine metabolites may be detectable for up to 10 days.
- Opioids: Opioids can be detected in urine for 2-3 days after use, depending on the specific drug and dosage. However, in chronic users, opioids may be detectable for up to a week or more.
It’s important to note that drug tests can only detect the presence of drugs in the body, not impairment or addiction. The effects of drug use can vary depending on the individual, and chronic use of drugs can have long-term health consequences. It’s always best to consult a medical professional if you have concerns about drug use or addiction.
Conclusion of the Best Drug Test Kits.
The best test for an employer is the one that best suits the workplace. If you need to test workers on-site, then an Oral/Saliva test is the best option. If you test in the workplace, then there is more choice. But most importantly, make sure they detect the right drugs of abuse. It seems obvious, but you may be surprised how many times employers and parents choose a device that analyzes the wrong drugs wasting everybody’s time and money.
Buy the best test money can buy. Make sure it’s of good quality and one that can demonstrate consistent results. Make sure the test is administered correctly, and follow the instructions precisely, catching the abusers as you go.
Finally, if you are still not sure what test to buy, use a twelve-panel drug test. A 12-panel detects twelve drugs at once and is more likely to catch the abuser. And many Oral/saliva tests are FDA Exempt, these can be safely used either by parents or by employers.
We can’t help you with every aspect of testing, but our guides above can be a good start in defining the best drug test to use and for what drugs. We hope you find this section helpful.