Drug Testing

Drug testing is commonly a technical drug examination of urine, blood, semen, sweat, or oral fluid samples to determine the presence or absence of specified drugs or their metabolized traces.

United Kingdom Drug Testing

A study of drug testing in 2004 by the Independent Inquiry into Drug Testing at Work found that attempts by employers to force employees to take drug tests could potentially be challenged as a violation of privacy under the Human Rights Act 1998 and Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights. However, this does not apply to industries where drug testing is a matter of personal and public safety or security rather than productivity. European Union legislation is expected in the future to clarify the legal situation regarding workplace drug testing.

Common types of drug tests

Urine drug screen:

This procedure requires that one provide a sample of urine. Either a test card is used on site for immediate results, or the sample is sent away to a lab to undergo gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (also known as GCMS), high performance liquid chromatography or immunoassay analysis. The majority of tests administered in pre-hire and even most probate scenarios are of the immediate, and less accurate "at home" variety. Most "dip stick" type tests have higher thresholds for a positive than do the GCMS tests. If a positive result (drug presence indicated) is found, the sample is usually sent to a lab for GCMS confirmation. This is largely due to the costliness of GCMS labaratory testing and time it takes to process and receive results. The results of any urine test reflect factors including, but not limited to age, weight, race, and often these factors are what determines whether the test is valid or not.

Hair drug testing:

Hair testing is considered accurate and can go back as far as 90 days. As hair grows out, any drugs used are encased in the hair shaft, so the longer the hair, the more time back in the individual's drug history the laboratory can detect. Human hair grows an average of .5 inches/month, which corresponds to 30 days of possible drug testing for every .5 inch. Testing laboratories generally require 1.5 inches for testing. This means they can test for around 90 days of drug use. This time period depends upon the rate at which the individual's hair grows of course. Some people attempt to circumvent this through shaving their heads. This does not usually work. In the absence of the required amount of hair on the scalp, body hair can be used as an acceptable substitute. If all hair is shaven, the follicles of the hair may be used in place of the hair. Removing the hair follicles is more painful.

Additionally for pre-employment hair testing, the inability to obtain a sample may be grounds for not hiring the individual. There is a growing trend in major companies and law enforcement agencies to utilize hair analysis on account of its efficiency and reputation as the gold standard when considering test accuracy. This technology makes use of radio immunoassay or the more modern ELISA technology with subsequent confirmation by mass spectrometry.

Hair alcohol testing:

As the hair grows, it absorbs special markers called fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) and ethyl glucuronide (EtG) into its structure, which remain in the hair indefinitely. These markers are only produced when there is alcohol in the bloodstream, such that the more markers there are, the more alcohol you have consumed.

Saliva drug screen / Oral fluid-based drug screen:

Saliva / oral fluid-based drug tests can generally detect use during the previous few days. Saliva or oral fluid based drug tests are becoming more prevalent because of their convenience and the fact that they can not be adulterated. Furthermore, on-site oral based tests in particular enable the implementation of random testing programs, proven to be the most effective type of drug screening. Oral fluid based tests are as accurate as urine and can be obtained from suppliers in the United States. Testing is usually performed by employers, for either pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, or return-to-duty testing. Oral fluid based testing most closely mimics results found with blood and is preferable for detecting on-the-job drug use or in post-accident applications in this case because the degree of drug intoxication can be approximated based on the amount of substance.

Walking the Line:

Should you be stopped while driving in the UK then the police will ask you to perform a series of roadside examinations including walking the yellow line keeping straight etc..

Detection in saliva tests begins immediately upon use:

* Marijuana and hashish (THC): An hour after ingestion, and up to 24 hours depending on use.
* Cocaine (including crack): From time of ingestion up to 2 to 3 days.
* Opiates: From time of ingestion up to 2 to 3 days
* Methamphetamine and ecstasy (MDMA, "crank," "ice"): From time of ingestion up to 2 to 3 days.
* Benzodiazepines: From time of ingestion up to 2 to 3 days

Sweat drug screen: Sweat tests are patches attached to the skin to collect sweat over a long period of time (10–14 days). These are almost exclusively used by child protective services, parole departments, and other government institutions concerned with drug use over long periods, when urine testing is not practical. The patches have security features that keep them from being covertly removed and then reapplied without the knowledge of the testing agency. At the end of the test period, the patch is removed by a social worker or parole officer and sent to a lab for analysis. If the person has used any drugs during the period that the patch was in place, they will test positive for that drug. This type of testing has fallen out of favor with government agencies due to documented problems with certain drugs.