Urine for Drug Tests

Drug Test is the procedure for determining the use of drugs by a person. A sample i.e. body hair or body fluid like urine, blood, saliva or sweat is extracted from the body of the person, who is being tested, and scanned for the presence of drug residues. If drug residues are present and their concentration is above a certain pre determined minimum level, then a second confirmatory test is conducted. If the result is repeated, the person is declared to be a user of drugs. Drug tests are named after the sample that is used. Thus there is the urine test, the blood test, sweat test, saliva or the oral swab test and the hair drug test.

Drug test is meant to discourage drug use. Testing positive in a drug test, or even the fear of failing to pass a drug test, is enough to deter many from taking up or continuing with this habit. Drug and alcohol testing in the workplace is of particular importance. It prevents the consequences of drug use from showing in the workplace. These include chronic under performance and absenteeism, accident-prone behavior – accidents can endanger the life and limb of other employees as well, aggressive and possibly violent behavior all leading to a disturbance of peace and tranquility that is so essential in a workplace. The Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988 made drug tests compulsory for all government employees. Others followed cue and now drug testing is compulsory in private workplaces, schools, colleges and is even conducted by landlords.

Urine for a drug test is the most common sample. This is because the urine test is a kind of an optimum test in all respects – cost, accuracy and detection periods. These days the supervision of drug tests has also improved virtually eliminating any chance of substituting or tampering with the sample. Before going into the urinating chamber, you are made to change into a hospital gown. This reduces the possibility of you carrying any extra things with you – things that can tamper or substitute the sample. The water supply to the chamber is also temporarily suspended to prevent you from diluting the sample.