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Key things you need to know about urine drug test

A urine drug test can identify drugs in an individual’s system. Many employers usually require these tests regularly. A urine test is a standard method you can use to screen for drugs. The good thing is that they are cost-effective, quick, and easy to do. Signs of drug use can be in a person’s system even after the physical effects wear off. Therefore, you need urine drug tests to determine whether your employee or job applicant used specific drugs days or weeks before the drug test.

Remember that drug use in workplaces can lead to severe accidents. Therefore, you need to make sure that your workplace is drug-free. This is the reason why it’s also crucial to offer employee training courses so that your workers can understand the consequences of drug use in the workplace. The good news is that many organizations can offer support to a person struggling with alcohol or drug addiction. This article discusses the key things you need to know about urine drug tests.

Circumstances that require urine drug screens

Employers, sports officials, and doctors may require urine drug tests. A doctor can request a urine drug screen when they suspect that a person is using illegal drugs or even misusing prescription drugs. For instance, a doctor can request a urine drug test to determine whether or not an individual is using a prescription opioid medication correctly.

Also, an emergency services team member can ask for a urine drug test if they think a person behaves dangerously or strangely due to the influence of illicit drugs. Besides, alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs can request urine drug tests at initial assessments and follow-up appointments.

Most sporting officials require urine drug tests to determine whether or not athletes have utilized performance-enhancing drugs like anabolic steroids. You should note that the World Anti-Doping Agency regulates the use of performance-enhancing substances in most global sports events. This ensures that all athletes compete without these drugs.

Some employers can also request that job applicant or current employees take urine drug tests. In most cases, employees usually do this regularly. This is common in worksites that require high safety levels. For instance, the United States federal law requires that all employees who work in the transportation industry need to take regular drug tests. But laws about employee drug testing tend to differ geographically. Therefore, employers need to check the state, federal, and local laws before they request for urine drug tests.

Drugs that can be detected in a urine drug test

A urine drug test can detect a variety of drugs. This includes amphetamines, alcohol, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, cocaine, methamphetamine, cannabis, phencyclidine, and opioids. Further, urine drug tests can also detect cotinine and nicotine, which the body can produce after breaking down nicotine. A urine test can show the presence of alcohol, but a legal or health authority can request a blood or breath test if they suspect an individual has been drinking excessively.

It’s worth mentioning that a doctor or trained technician often conducts a urine drug test. There are various types of these urine drug tests. The most common one is an immunoassay test because it’s the most cost-effective and quickest.

But immunoassay tests can sometimes provide false-positive results. In such cases, the results can show the presence of drugs that an individual has not used. Also, false-negative results can happen.

Another type of urine drug test can confirm these results. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry test is more reliable than an immunoassay test, and it can usually identify more substances. Most people often ask for a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry test as a follow-up, as the results take longer and are more expensive.

Consider that generic immunoassay tests indicate amphetamines, opioids, cocaine, PCP, and cannabinoids. A doctor can request a specialized immunoassay test to check for semisynthetic and synthetic opioids like methadone.

It’s crucial to note that using a certain amount of legal substances can also lead to false-positive immunoassay test results. For instance, consuming high amounts of dextromethorphan, a common ingredient for cough syrups, may cause a positive result for PCP. A urine drug test tends to have cut-off levels to reduce the risk of these false positives. Therefore, the result can only be favorable once the test shows the number of drugs above a specific level. Cut-offs can also lower the chances of positive testing because of only passive drug exposure. An excellent example of passive exposure is second-hand smoke.

Remember that a urine drug test requires a bit of preparation. In most cases, an individual must urinate into a plastic container and give the sample to the doctor or technician. They can then measure the urine sample temperature to ensure it’s ideal for testing. A technician can accompany the person to ensure they provide the sample properly. Therefore, the technician needs to explain the reason for such supervision.

Drug testing by an employer is legal. The law understands that drug testing can infringe on the privacy of an employee, but it’s also crucial to conduct it so that you can protect the safety and health of other employees and customers. Many state laws are similar to federal laws and usually retain the legality of drug testing for all state employees.

But states tend to vary when it comes to employee protection. For instance, some states have clear rules concerning whether an employee can be fired or hired depending on the outcome of a drug test. An employee has the right to refuse a drug test, though this can cause severe consequences like the unavailability of unemployment benefits and job loss; this can depend on the state.

As you can see, there are many things you should consider before you drug test your employees. It’s usually a good idea to attend a training course or consult your attorney to understand how you can drug test your employees to have a drug-free workplace.

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