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Several variants on drug testing methods exist, each with varying degrees of sensitivity. The most commonly used method of drug testing is urine testing or urinalysis. The subject of this method of testing is asked to urinate in a vessel in either a closed bathroom or in the presence of a testing official. This urine is analyzed for the presence of materials that evidence drug use. Less popular methods of drug testing are typically more expensive and include testing hair, saliva and blood. Comparisons have been made between the different methods of drug testing (Fendrich et al, 2004). The primary difference between the results of each variety of drug testing is the duration each substance will test positive after their use. For the purposes of this analysis, focus will be on urine-based procedures (urinalysis) due to the popularity of the method among organizations and the prevalence of urinalysis in literature. Urinalysis, as dictated by SAMHSA, is required to test for 5 classes of drugs, and these are Cannabinoids (cannabis, marijuana), Cocaine, Amphetamines (methamphetamines), Opiates (heroin, opium, morphine), Phencyclidine (PCP). While other drugs may be tested for, they are not included in a SAMHSA standard drug test unless abuse of the specific drug is suspected or if other drug tests are more appropriate for the specific job. Additional testing of other drugs is typically limited due to the increasing costs associated with testing for more substances.

Each substance tested for has different byproducts, and as a result of several factors such as metabolism and solubility of the drug, byproducts from different substances remain detectable through urinalysis for different periods of time. Also, the subject influences the periods of time a substance can be detected through drug testing., For example, faster metabolic rates will yield shorter windows in which a drug may be detected. Substances can show up in urinalysis for very short periods of time or relatively long periods of time. Cocaine is detectable 3 days after use while cannabinoids can be detected for up to 30 days after use. While drug testing is able to determine if a particular drug has been used in the past, it cannot determine current inebriation at the time of testing. Most substances detected by a drug test take between 6 and 8 hours to be metabolized and thereby be detected. However, current inebriation can be determined by administering other tests, which are outside of the realm of drug testing such as breathalyzer tests. Drug testing is also unable to determine the level of drug use in a subject, and thereby unable to differentiate between casual drug users and chronic users.

Drug testing in the workplace is typically performed in one of three contexts: Pre-employment, random and post incident. Pre-employment drug testing is administered to applicants to a job at an organization and is used to screen out employees who are drug positive. Random drug testing occurs when an organization gives out drug tests to a random sample of their employees. Random drug testing can be used in order to remove employees who are drug positive or initiate treatment or disciplinary actions. An employee who has been selected for random drug testing has a 24-hour period before the test is administered in most states. Post incident drug testing is used to determine whether an employee is a drug user after an accident has occurred. Post incident testing is used to remove liability from the employer for the accident, however this type of testing is limited to oral fluid or blood testing because urinalysis and hair testing cannot determine current inebriation.

No problem. By the way, your right about hair testing, but most labs only use the hair right at the base (near the scalp) which limits how far back the test can detect drug use. If your getting one of these tests done, don't bother shaving your head, they can use any hair on your body (read short hairs). Your not likely to get this kind of drug test though, most jobs do the urinalysis because its much cheaper.