How To Choose and Use Drug Tests
Drug testing is an effective means of identifying people who are involved in using illegal drugs and the kind of drugs used. Hopefully, drug testing could be a step towards completely ending the user’s drug addiction.
Popular Drug Test Kits
DrugConfirm™ CLIA Urine Drug Test Cup
SalivaConfirm Saliva Drug Test kit
Drug and alcohol testing is part of almost every business in the United States. Businesses and organizations that operate under certain government agencies have to include a drug and alcohol testing program that complies with the agency they are under as part of their company policy. Businesses benefit from having such a program in place because it promotes a healthy and safe working environment, increases productivity, and lowers cost of covering accidents and health-related issues.
Urine Drug Testing
Urine drug testing is the most common method of drug testing because of several reasons:
- It is non-invasive.
- It is inexpensive.
- It can be collected even by non-medical personnel.
- Urine is a matrix that remains stable over time and can be frozen to maintain the integrity of the sample.
Although not unlimited when it comes to the number of drugs that can be tested, urine drug tests can detect several drugs, which include marijuana, cocaine, PCP, amphetamine, Ecstasy, methamphetamine, opiates, oxycodone, methadone, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, buprenorphine, tricyclic antidepressants, propoxyphene, tramadol, fentanyl, sufentanil, zolpidem, carisoprodol, meperidine, antihistamines, synthetic cannabinoids, designer stimulants (bath salts), dextromethorphan, direct ethanol biomarkers, high potency opioids, ketamine, propofol glucuronide, & Ritalin.
There is also an option for testing alcohol but since it cannot be detected from urine and the bloodstream, it is usually implemented for random testing and due to reasonable suspicion. Breathalyzer tests are best for detecting alcohol abuse.
The table below shows the detection time and cut-off levels for each of the illicit substances which can be detected using a urine and saliva drug test.
Urine Drug Testing
New Column New Column New Column New Column New Column
Substance
Cut-Off Level
EIA Screen Cutoff Level
GC/MS Confirmation Cutoff Level
Approximate Detection Time in Urine
Amphetamine (AMP)
1000 ng/mL
1000 ng/mL
500 ng/mL
2-4 Days
Amphetamine (AMP300)
300 ng/mL
1000 ng/mL
500 ng/mL
2-4 Days
Methamphetamine (MET)
1000 ng/mL
1000 ng/mL
500 ng/mL
3-5 Days
Methamphetamine (MET500)
500 ng/mL
1000 ng/mL
500 ng/mL
3-5 Days
Cocaine (COC)
300 ng/mL
300 ng/mL
150 ng/mL
2-4 Days
Cocaine (COC150)
150 ng/mL
300 ng/mL
150 ng/mL
2-4 Days
THC (THC)
50 ng/mL
50 ng/mL
15 ng/mL
15-30 Days
Opiates (OPI)
2000 ng/mL
2000 ng/mL
2000 ng/mL
2-4 Days
Opiates (MOR)
300 ng/mL
2000 ng/mL
2000 ng/mL
2-4 Days
Phencyclidine (PCP)
25 ng/mL
25 ng/mL
25 ng/mL
7-14 Days
Barbiturates (BAR)
300 ng/mL
300 ng/mL
150 ng/mL
4-7 Days
Benzodiazepines (BZO)
300 ng/mL
300 ng/mL
150 ng/mL
3-7 Days
Methadone (MTD)
300 ng/mL
300 ng/mL
150 ng/mL
3-5 Days
Propxyphene (PPX)
300 ng/mL
300 ng/mL
150 ng/mL
1-2 Days
Ecstasy (MDMA)
500 ng/mL
1-3 Days
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA)
1000 ng/mL
7-10 Days
Hydrocodone
300 ng/mL
300 ng/mL
2-4 Days
Hydromorphone
300 ng/mL
300 ng/mL
2-4 Days
Oxycodone (OXY)
100 ng/mL
100 ng/mL
2-4 Days
Oxymorphone
100 ng/mL
100 ng/mL
2-4 Days
Saliva Drug Testing
Saliva drug tests are the most accurate when the goal is to determine recency of drug use. The detection window for saliva drug tests is the shortest of all drug testing methods, which is beneficial if someone is suspected of using drugs onsite.
New Column New Column New Column New Column New Column
Substance
Cut-Off Level
EIA Screen Cutoff Level
GC/MS Confirmation Cutoff Level
Approximate Detection Time in Urine
Amphetamine (AMP)
1000 ng/mL
1000 ng/mL
500 ng/mL
1-3 Days
Methamphetamine (MET)
1000 ng/mL
1000 ng/mL
500 ng/mL
1-3 Days
Cocaine (COC)
300 ng/mL
300 ng/mL
150 ng/mL
1-3 Days
THC (THC)
50 ng/mL
50 ng/mL
15 ng/mL
6 -12 Hours
Opiates (OPI)
2000 ng/mL
2000 ng/mL
2000 ng/mL
1-3 Days
Phencyclidine (PCP)
25 ng/mL
25 ng/mL
25 ng/mL
1-3 Days
Many drug tests these days provide instant results. There are DIY or home drug test kits that provide results within minutes, particularly saliva and urine tests.
For lab-based drug tests, the availability of results varies depending on the type of specimen received. Urine test results are normally available from 24-48 hours from the time the lab receives the sample. Saliva test results are ready from 3-7 days upon receipt of sample and hair follicle test results can take from 3–14 days.
Cost of drug tests:
Drug test prices vary depending on what testing method is used, what and how many substances are being tested for. For example, 2-4 panel instant urine tests can go as low as $5 or less, while a 10-panel instant urine test can go anywhere from $6 to $14.
Instant saliva tests used to be a little more expensive than standard urine tests but over the years with new technological developments, their prices have gone down. As a result, their popularity has risen. Prices range from $7-$15 for 5-12 panel saliva test kits.
Blood tests and hair follicle tests are the more expensive options as they offer certain advantages over other methods of screening for drugs. A blood test is still considered the best correlation between impairment and drug level, so it may be the method of choice for certain specific cases.
A hair test, on the other hand, offers the best glimpse into long-term drug use. Multi-panel hair follicle tests for the standard 1.5 inches of hair sample or 90-day history would range from $65 - $85, with longer hair samples for a 365-day profile that parents favor going for upwards of $220. There’s even a comprehensive hair test specific to date rape drugs like Rohypnol, GHB and Ketamine that go for $599.
Types of drug test panels
Before proceeding to choose the right drug testing method for your business, let us first discuss the different types of drug testing procedures available in the market. A “panel” refers to a drug or family of drug that is included in a drug test. The more panels included, the wider the scope of the test.
5-Panel Drug Test
This panel examines a specimen in order to test for 5 different substances: THC, cocaine, opiates, phencyclidine, and amphetamines. This is the most common drug test method used by the Department of Transportation and the Federal government.
There are other options available outside of the 5-panel drug test. With these procedures, you simply add more drugs to the panel. Although the number of drug panels is dependent on the employees being tested, combinations of drugs constitute a panel more frequently than others. If you want several panels tested, you will just add another drug to each additional panel.
6-Panel Drug Test
In this type of test, benzodiazepines are added. Benzodiazepines are designed for treating panic attacks, generalized anxiety, seizures, and alcohol withdrawal. Common examples of benzodiazepines are Valium & Klonopin. Although well-tolerated, the usual side effects associated with abuse of benzodiazepines include fatigue, dizziness, and weakness. The 6-panel drug test is recommended for industries that require alertness, such as jobs that involve heavy machinery.
7-Panel Drug Test
In a 7-panel drug test, barbiturates are added to the panel aside from benzodiazepines. These substances are sedative-hypnotic drugs designed to reduce anxiety and fight insomnia. Also known as downers, barbiturates can affect the brain in the same way alcohol or sleeping pills do.
These substances are frequently used in suicide attempts and may result in death or coma. When abused, barbiturates can lead to drowsiness and confusion. The 7-panel drug test can be used in industries where safety is a major concern.
8-Panel Drug Test
With the 8-panel drug test, the drug Quaalude is added to the equation. Quaalude is a brand name for the drug methaqualone. It is usually used recreationally for relaxing the muscles of an aphrodisiac. Currently, it is not frequently used in North America, and that is why the 7-panel drug test is more recommended than an 8-panel drug test within the U.S.
9-Panel Drug Test
In a 9-panel drug test, the drugs benzodiazepines, barbiturates, Quaaludes, & propoxyphene are added to the list of substances identified by the test. Propoxyphene is a highly addictive narcotic pain reliever. Once it interacts with other drugs, it can slow down the heartbeat, create confusion, cause fainting, and trigger seizures.
Testing an employee using the 9-panel drug test may make sense. Employees who experience so much pain will require a narcotic pain reliever, but the risky complications and the addictive nature of propoxyphene cannot be denied.
10-Panel Drug Test
In a 10-panel drug test, methadone is added to the previous nine drugs. It can be abused as a pain reliever and result in extreme exhaustion and numbness.
When the test is conducted in the laboratory, the results are usually available 24 to 48 business hours after collecting the samples. Confirmatory tests will take 48 to 72 hours after completion of the test.
11-Panel Drug Test
An 11-panel drug test includes everything on an 8-panel drug test but adds methadone, oxycodone, & tricyclic antidepressants. The latter is no longer popular as an anti-depressant mainly because of its many side effects. The drug is known for causing moderate cognitive impairment, anxiety, and exhaustion.
12-Panel Drug Test
A 12-panel drug test usually tests the same drugs as a 10-panel drug test but adds on Percocet/oxycodone and Ecstasy/MDMA. This type of drug test essentially checks for additional opiates and painkillers that may not be detected in fewer panels. This fairly comprehensive drug test is utilized in industries that have great responsibility for public welfare.
The 12-panel drug test is an accurate method for detecting recent drug use. It is widely popular for drug testing due to its speed and accuracy.