Types of Drug Tests
– Urine test
– Hair test
– Blood test
– Breath test
– Oral fluid/saliva test
Major Applications of Drug Testing
– Detection of performance enhancing steroids in sports
– Employers screening for prohibited drugs
– Parole/probation officers screening for prohibited drugs
– Police officers testing for alcohol concentration in blood
– Responsible drug use testing
Factors Affecting Detection Periods
– Drug class
– Amount and frequency of use
– Metabolic rate
– Body mass
– Age and overall health
Detection Periods for Different Substances
– Heroin and cocaine detection for a few hours, but their metabolites can be detected for several days in urine
– THC detection in oral fluid for 6-12 hours
– Benzodiazepines detection in oral fluid
– Breath air testing mimics blood tests
– Detection periods vary based on substance and test type
Limitations and Controversies
– Rapid oral fluid products not approved for workplace drug testing in certain states
– False positives in urine drug testing
– Urine drug testing based on competitive binding principle
– Level of drug or metabolites in urine not predictive of timing or amount of drug use
– Complaints about the cost of urine drug testing and false positives. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_test
A drug test (also often toxicology screen or tox screen) is a technical analysis of a biological specimen, for example urine, hair, blood, breath, sweat, or oral fluid/saliva—to determine the presence or absence of specified parent drugs or their metabolites. Major applications of drug testing include detection of the presence of performance enhancing steroids in sport, employers and parole/probation officers screening for drugs prohibited by law (such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin) and police officers testing for the presence and concentration of alcohol (ethanol) in the blood commonly referred to as BAC (blood alcohol content). BAC tests are typically administered via a breathalyzer while urinalysis is used for the vast majority of drug testing in sports and the workplace. Numerous other methods with varying degrees of accuracy, sensitivity (detection threshold/cutoff), and detection periods exist.
| Drug test | |
|---|---|
| MeSH | D015813 |
A drug test may also refer to a test that provides quantitative chemical analysis of an illegal drug, typically intended to help with responsible drug use.
