Can Drug Tests Be Multiple Choice? - American Society of Employers - Susan Chance

Can Drug Tests Be Multiple Choice?

Kurt Rambis, former NBA champion and coach, is quoted as saying, “I’m in favor of drug tests, just so long as they are multiple choice.” There are many different types of drug tests available for screening applicants and employees for drug use, but can they be multiple choice? In a way they can. How? Well I’m so glad you asked.

First, let’s look at some of the drug screening options along with pros and cons of each.

Hair Testing

Pros                                                                            Cons

Longer detection period (90 days)                              Does not show 1-7 days of drug use

Every test is directly observed                                    The number of panels checked is limited

Little chance for results to be altered                          More expensive and takes longer to process

Urine Testing

Pros                                                                            Cons

Most common; easy to find test locations                   Easiest type of test of cheat on

Easy to add additional drug panels to test                  Collection typically not monitored

Only method Federally approved                                Issues with “shy bladder”

Saliva Testing

Pros                                                                            Cons

Every test is directly observed                                    Detection windows

Difficult to adulterate                                                   Limited panel options

Can be done anywhere; quick results                         Poor detection of THC

Next, let’s compare detection windows:

Substance

Urine

Hair

Saliva

Amphetamines

1-5 days

Approx. 3 months

12 hours

Methamphetamine

3-5 days

Approx. 3 months

1-3 days

MMDA (Ecstasy)

72 hours

Approx. 3 months

24 hours

Barbiturates

1 day

Approx. 3 months

1-2 days

Phenobarbital

2-3 weeks*

Approx. 3 months

4-7 days

Benzodiazepines

Chronic use (>1 yr) 4-6 weeks

Approx. 3 months

6-48 hours

Infrequent use 3-4 days

Heavy use 10 days

Cannabis

Chronic and/or users with high body fat 30+ days

Approx. 3 months

2-24 hours in most cases

Cocaine

2-5 days

Approx. 3 months

2-5 days

Codeine

2-3 days

 

 

Morphine

2-4 days

Approx. 3 months

1-3 days

Heroin

1-4 days

Approx. 3 months

1-2 days

Methadone

3 days

Approx. 3 months

24 hours


*With therapeutic use up to 7 days.

Now let’s consider some of the differences in the tests. To be able to check a longer period of time for drug use the hair test seems to be the best bet. However, if the person is not a regular user, but took drugs during the weekend, they would not show up on a test taken on Monday.  There is a 1-2 day window before detection can occur with a hair test.  The drug use would show up in a urine or, potentially, in a saliva test, but the detection windows are much smaller.

So what do you do? Some employers are starting to make a “multiple choice” with their drug testing program by combining tests. For example, an employer may have the subject complete both saliva and hair tests to include both the immediate and the long term time frames.

While this may seem like a pricey proposition, as with all testing, you have to consider the risks and advantages for your particular business.

Even if you choose to run only one type of drug test, make sure to consider the various choices available, then choose the option that best suits your purposes.

What if the only option you can consider is urine testing? You still have multiple choices in the types of tests available. Most people are familiar with 5 panel, 10 panel, and DOT tests, which gives you a few choices up front. However, according to Quest Diagnostics, there are “hundreds of different drug panel configurations.”

As you can see drug tests are indeed multiple choice.

Sources:  healthguidance.org, questdiagnostics.com, ClearStar Webinar: "Drug Screening - Separating Facts from Myths"

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