Drug Testing

What is drug testing?

If you’ve ever been pulled over for a random breath test, had a urine test as part of a job interview, or undergone a blood test as part of a sporting body’s testing requirements then you have been part of a drug test.

A drug test is an analysis of a biological specimen such as urine, blood, or breath, as seen in the above examples, and can also include testing of hair follicles, saliva and other bodily fluids and scrapings.
The most common examples of drug testing include police officers performing roadside breath testing for alcohol, screening of employees before gaining employment, or during employment as part of their contractual agreement with their employer, and in elite sports to determine whether any illicit substances like steroids are present in the athlete’s body.

This article will examine the different tests that drug testing companies can perform for businesses to ensure that their employers are not breaking any contractual agreements or endangering fellow employees by coming to work under the influence of illicit or banned substances.

Why is workplace drug testing important?

Workplace drug testing is important because not only can it save you money it can also save lives. If you work in a factory or an office, drug testing of your workforce can help to prevent accidents that will cost you money, and potentially, even lives.

If you work in high finance all it takes is one employee coming in stoned to result in poor decision making and potentially hazardous results for your coin purse; if you work on a factory floor and one of your forklift operators comes in tanked they have the potential to not only destroy your pallets of products but also pose a risk to the lives of their co-workers.

Drugs in the workplace is serious business, hence the need for workplace drug testing.

How does workplace drug testing work?

There are a variety of different tests that can be performed to determine whether a certain substance is present in a subject. The most common drug testing techniques for workplace drug testing are urinalysis and oral fluid screening; these procedures are listed in detail below.

Urinalysis- Urinalysis is the analysis of urine. It is one of the most common workplace drug testing procedures and is typically used to determine whether a subject has been using amphetamines, benzodiazepines, cocaine, cannabis or opiates.

Urinalysis is a non-invasive technique for testing employees that involves the collection of a small amount of urine which is then either tested onsite using an instant drug test and/or sent for analysis at a laboratory.

Oral Fluid Screening- Oral fluid screening is the analysis of oral fluid or saliva. It is also one of the workplace drug testing procedures and is used to test for amphetamines, cocaine, cannabis or opiates.
Oral fluid screening involves the use of a mouth swab which is then taken to a laboratory for analysis.

When and how to implement a drug screening at your place of work

If you’re asking when is the right time to begin screening your employees then chances are the answer is right now. By implementing a regular drug screening test into your workplace you will minimise the threat of drug related accidents and incidences in your workplace.

To implement a drug testing procedure at you place of work, get in touch with us at Safe Work Laboratories.

Safe Work Laboratories is committed to providing our customers with the most comprehensive and reliable workplace drug testing to ensure that your workforce is healthy, happy, and more productive. As an independent clinical laboratory in Western Australia, Safe Work Laboratories seeks to offer the best service possible. We are a NATA accredited laboratory for both AS/NZS4308 (Urine) and AS4760 (Oral Fluid) workplace drug testing. If you would like to arrange a drug test for your workplace please contact us today.