Be it for pre-employment as a part of the selection process or during your current employment, corporate drug testing occurs across various industries. As a matter of fact, it’s common practice in the United States.
So, wherever you are in your career path, let’s see what corporate drug testing is all about – what type of tests there are, how to prepare, and what to expect.
What is Onsite Drug Testing?
As the name suggests, onsite drug testing (aka point-of-collection testing or POCT) is the process of testing employees at their place of work. It’s a fairly quick process that involves sample collection and testing.
Most tests are designed to detect a broad range of substances, with the most common being:
- THC (marijuana)
- Opioids
- Cocaine
- Amphetamines
- Alcohol
Most likely, the employer will hire an external, certified medical agency to conduct the sample collection and analysis at your workplace. Then, they will perform one of two tests, depending on the analysis method that’s being used.
Analysis Approaches of Drug Testing at the Workplace
When it comes to the methods of testing, there are two main types of tests that can be used to test for drugs at the workplace:
1. Chromatography tests – also known as the GC-MS or LC-MS tests. These methods rely on collecting the relevant employee samples at work and analyzing them in a designated chromatography lab. This testing method has a turnaround time of a few days. Although it’s a more precise method, it is commonly used as a confirmatory step to verify the initial screenings.
2. Immunoassay test – also known as rapid screening. In the vast majority of cases, this method has a qualitative nature (strictly positive or negative). And it provides results in a matter of minutes. A rapid drug test can be done on short notice, and, based on the results, a chromatography test can be ordered for confirmation.
Sample Types
Now, there are many ways to test for drugs in a system: blood, urine, saliva, sweat, hair follicles, breath, or even fingernail samples. In a corporate drug setting environment, you’re most likely going to have to give a sample of fresh urine (collected in a cup). But other sample types may be included as well. Here are the three main sample types you can expect to give for an employment test:
- Urine sample
This is by far the most commonly used sample for drug testing. It’s safe, easy to handle, cost-efficient, and it can screen for a wide range of substances, mainly THC, cocaine, opioids, benzodiazepines, and amphetamines. Urine can contain traces of certain substances even after weeks apart from use (e.g., THC).
- Oral fluid (saliva) sample
Saliva drug testing is not as common as urine, but it has been gaining traction lately. Their detection window is more effective in screening for drugs that were used recently, within a few-hour time window.
The saliva test sample is collected with a swab, which takes just a few seconds.
- Breath sample
This is the only test sample that provides near-instantaneous results, as the breath analyzers (aka breathalizers) measure the current level of alcohol in the sample. Breath analyzers provide quick results, but the detection window is not that generous. Additionally, breath as a sample is used to catch a specific substance, in this case, alcohol.
How to Prepare for a Drug Test at Your Workplace
If your workplace decides to conduct a drug test (regular, random, or pre-employment), you will most likely be notified in advance. If you’re assuming a risk of testing positive, here’s what you could do to prepare:
- Stop using the substance ASAP – Even though you may not have enough time, or you just consumed it once on a social occasion, the drug tests are designed to detect only whether or not the drug is present.
- Exercise – Sweating and boosting your metabolism is a nice way to reduce the amount of illicit substances in your system. Exercising can give you a hand in flushing out the drugs, as long as you…
- Hydrate – drinking enough water is crucial in flushing out your system. Just make sure not to overdo it on the day of the test, since overly-diluted urine can raise suspicion. On top of that, getting some extra fruit and veggies can help you even further.
- Test yourself at home – Immunoassay tests are available in the form of home tests. By being prepared, you get to see the real picture and plan your next steps accordingly. For example, if THC detection is what worries you, you can try the Exploro THC test that lets you test your urine at home, at a cutoff level most commonly tested – 50ng/ml.
*Keep in mind that exercise, hydration, and abstinence are not a way to cheat on a corporate drug test. These steps are there to help your body get into a healthier state, especially after stopping drug consumption.
What to Expect When the Results Come In
First off, it’s important to note that a positive drug test doesn’t mean that the tested person is under the influence at the time of taking the test. The results just detect the presence of the substance, which may have been consumed some time ago.
If you test positive for a certain drug, different things might happen. Your employer may require you to undergo additional education, awareness training, or treatment. Or, in some cases, a positive drug test directly translates to termination. If that’s the case, you can ask for legal counsel, and demand additional confirmation through a dedicated lab.
The employer should convey this information before the testing, so make sure to read up on that memo.
Corporate Drug Testing – The Conclusion
Corporate drug testing is not about shaming and finger-pointing. At the end of the day, it boils down to general health at the workplace, as well as employee safety, well-being, and productivity.
So, next time there’s a corporate drug test, you’ll be ready and know what to expect, and how to prepare.
